THE fourth Annual Hikers Hockey Club Junior Indoor Tournament is scheduled to take place at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, from tonight and will conclude on Sunday.
According to the Guyana Hockey Board over 100 junior hockey players are expected to compete in the TeleSky Under-13, inter-communication Under-16 and Woodpecker Products 21 categories, as well as Global Technology Inter-School category.
This event is planned and executed by the juniors of the Hikers and Saints Hockey Clubs as part of their junior development programmes.
The tournament’s secondary purpose is to raise funds for their annual junior teams’ tour to Trinidad in November.
Last year’s Under-13 champions Marian Academy dominated their opponents with unprecedented efficiency by scoring 19 goals and conceding none on their way to the title.
Their dominance will be seriously challenged this time around since a number of their players have aged out of the category and teams such as GCC, Hikers and Saints have improved considerably.
GCC Under-16 teams are favourites to retain their titles although their girls will be hard-pressed by the ever-improving Old Fort and Hikers girls. Their boys will find it even tougher going against the likes of the Omar Hopkinson-led Old Fort Vikings and the Saints Silencers.
In the Under-21 girls’ category, defending champions GCC have been weakened by the absence of a number of their top players and are expected to receive a stern test from the full-strength Hikers and Old Fort sides. On the boys side perennial powerhouse Hikers have also seen their margin of victory reduced with each passing year and will have to be on top of their game against the much-improved GCC and contenders Saints and Old Fort.
In addition to championship trophies and medals for the top three places, the MVPs of TeleSky. Net Communications and Woodpecker Products age categories will receive gift certificates for varying amounts redeemable at Woodpecker Products.
The entire team of the champion school as well as the MVPs of the Global Technology inter-school category will benefit from computer classes of considerable value at the institution.
The tournament will get under way today from 17:30hrs with play in the girls and boys Under-21 category.
