THE lone local international hockey tournament – the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Festival is set to start on Thursday, December 4that the National Gymnasium, with only one overseas-based team for this the 11th edition.

Trinidad and Tobago team Carib Hockey Club are fielding a Veterans’ team for the event and will also travel with a few extra players who will fit in the Renegades team. The Renegades will comprise a few foreign players and locals who do not make the cut for their respective teams.
President of the Hockey Board Philip Fernandes said this year’s event clashed with the International Hockey Calendar and over the weekend, teams from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago pulled out. Both countries fielded male and female teams to the just concluded Central American and Caribbean games in Mexico.
The clash is no fault of the GHB. The CAC organisers had shifted the dates of the Games from earlier this year to November 14-30. Fernandes said it’s an unfortunate situation.
Fernandes said he’s not worried by the lack of international teams this year. He expects the 2015 edition to feature all the teams.
Canada had earlier indicated their unavailability to attend this year’s Festival, since a number of their players are part of the country’s national programme and will be in Europe this month in preparation for the Indoor World Cup next February.
The defending male champs were Revamp Hockey Club out of Canada. They defeated Trinidad and Tobago side – Queen’s Park 4-Nil.
With Revamp out of this year, four-time champions and current GT&T Indoor Champions Hikers will be the team to beat. They will come against GCC, Old Fort, St. Stanislaus College, the National U-19s and Renegades.
The defending Women’s Champion – GCC Tigers will field possibly their strongest team, hoping to add a fifth title to their collection. Last year they defeated T&T team Malvern 7-4 in the final.
GCC Spice, losing finalists at this year’s GT&T Indoor tournament, Hikers and Old Fort are the other female teams.
The Over-35-years/Veterans defending Carib champions are the HiCkers. They’re the old Hikers players who’ve added a ‘C’ to their name to mimic the sound one makes when he/she is highly intoxicated.
Current GT&T Veterans Champions GCC and Old-Old Fort are the other Vet. Teams.
Last year, in the all local Carib Final, Hikers outclassed GCC 7-4.
The top Men’s and Women’s team will each pocket US 1,000., with the runner up taking home US $500.
The triumphant Vets team gets US $500.
To run simultaneously with this year’s festival – the GHB has secured the services of a Pan Am Umpire as well as a Pan Am Coach to conduct two courses.
Today, Trinidad and Tobago coach Anthony Marcano will begin a Coaches’ Course at Brandsville. It runs until Saturday.
Tomorrow – US Umpire Constantine ‘Gus’ Soteriades will conduct an Umpires’ course. The theoretical part of both courses will be at Brandsville, with the practical aspects set for the National Gymnasium.
Fernandes said Marcano and Soteriades will provide match analysis of the coaches, umpires and players during the games.
‘This will enhance the skills of our local people, umpires and coaches and also add a new dimension to the tournament that wasn’t there in the past,’ said Fernandes.

(By Leeron Brumell)