Hawke's Bay Hockey Update
To our Community,
From the GM: The season is nearly at and end and there is so much to celebrate. Internally we welcome back Shea McAleese to the Pavilion at Park Island who is excited to link back into our Senior Representative Programs.
Last weekend showed with our penultimate matches how competitive each grade has been this year. Although it does feel like the season has been long, as we all have navigated a full season for the first time in three years. For more on finals day please see further down the newsletter.
Michelle and Shea have been working on a HBHA Pathway Mural for the Pavilion which will be unveiled 11:00am Saturday before Winter Club Finals. Everyone is welcome along.
In the umpiring/officials space we as an association are so thankful for everyone who has contributed this season so far facilitating games. We acknowledge there is still so much work to do in this space and understand it's going to take a collective effort to continue to develop this side of the game. Our success stories include our youth coming through with Bianca Ching and Bradley Booth showing the pathway for up and coming umpires. Both have navigated tricky situations this season and showed resilience.
As the Winter Season wraps up the focus of the HBHA office turns towards our Tournaments and Development Programs. We are excited to Host the Federation Cup and Marie Fry Trophy Tournament on behalf of Hockey New Zealand after a fair few years of preparation.
As always my phone is always on, and as I appreciate sport never stops! Otherwise I will see everyone this Saturday.
Strahan McIntosh, 0279606558
General Manager Hawke's Bay Hockey Association
Club Hockey
On the 13th of August we experienced an amazing round of club hockey with a lot of of the last pool matches having finals implications as well as close contests in the limited semi-finals we held.
In the Division 1 Men's Grade Te Awa Scinde play Bay 1 in what will be a tightly contested Final. A resurgent Te Awa have made their way into the final for the first time in 2018 holding out Akina Waapu. The decision was made early in the season to run with a 4 Team's Men's grade and it has been challenging all year. Te Awa 's latest result against table topping Bay was a 5-2 Win, so they are coming into the Final in form!
In the Division 1 Women's Grade Havelock North Hockey Club have had a memorable season, giving up only 5 Goals the whole year in during the regular season while putting 110 into the back boards! In the Semi-Final Napier Tech Academy gave them a fright but a late goal saw HNHC go through to the final once again. Akina Horsefield perhaps gave us the upset of the round when they played Bay Ferns earning themselves a 2-0 victory and booking a spot in the big dance.
In other games to watch this weekend 2021 Division 2 Winners City United contest the Division 3 Final against Central Reserves, and Bay Evergreens look to hand Napier Tech White another loss in the Women's Division 2 Final, having been the only team to beat them during round robin.
Finals Draw: https://www.hbhockey.org.nz/draws-and-results/winter-senior-club-1
Secondary Schools Hockey
Midweek we have our Secondary School Finals and all eyes will be on the Division 1 Matches where Napier Boys' High School take on Taradale Wednesday and Iona play Napier Girls' Thursday night.
Finals Draw: https://www.hbhockey.org.nz/draws-and-results/winter-secondary-schools
Junior Hockey
Our Junior Winter Hockey also wraps up this weekend with games across Park Island and Unison Hockey Stadium (Mitre 10 Sports Park). As we move towards warmer weather there are further opportunities to play. Our MiniSticks and KiwiSticks Development grades start up early September, and summer hockey is not too far away!
Our Winter FunSticks Programs are officially finished up, a big thank you to our Coordinators Chantelle Monrad and Tom Porter, and their fantastic coaches who ran the trainings.
Club Hockey Incidents
We are very appreciative of everyone who submits incident reports when there are injuries on the turf, we always like to follow up with players who have been injured to ensure we can mitigate these, if possible, in the future. We want to ensure that anyone injured feels support from HBH along with their clubs. Forms can be found in the pavilion beside our Life Members, Presidents and NZ Representative Boards or on our website. https://www.hbhockey.org.nz/about/health-safety-1
We know clubs and schools take care of their players welfare, and appreciate those who follow ACC Sport Smart recommendations around head knocks and concussion, to update yourself please refer to the link below. https://www.accsportsmart.co.nz/concussion/
Pavilion Facility Updates
Bar: New Products are available at the bar these include, Mini-Pump water bottles, Powerade, and Sparkling Duet. Zara and Richard are your Bar Attendants each Saturday and the bar is open from 12:00 until late.
Pro Shop: The Pro Shop will also eventually stock: Shoes, more shin guard sizes and some Coca Cola products. Open: Tue/Wed/Thurs 4:00-6:00pm, Saturday 10:00-2:00pm, and Sunday 9:00-1:00pm. These times will change as Secondary School Hockey and Club Hockey concludes.
Pavilion Food Options: Finals day sees the debut of Shani's Food Truck this season with a tonne of options we are excited to have them at the turf 8:00am-Close. https://www.facebook.com/shanisribtruck
Coffee with Kimi: Open: Mon 3:00-7:00pm, Tues 3:00-5:30pm, Wed CLOSED, Thurs 3:00-6:30pm, Fri 3:00-6:00pm, Sat 8:00-1:00pm
Further Key Dates this month:
- 28 August McAleese/Whitelock challenge, Senior Men's & Women's - Manawatu
- 29 August - 3 September Federation Cup & Marie Fry Trophy - Park Island & UHS
https://www.hbhockey.org.nz/fed-cup - 10 September - 17 September - Ford National Hockey Championship - Dunedin
- 1 October - 4 October Lower North Island Group U15 Girls Tournament - Park Island
