ExxonMobil sponsors National Indoor Hockey Championship
- Action gets underway on Monday evening at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall
After an inactive period of almost two years, the Guyana Hockey Board has finally received the green light to resume local hockey competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, albeit with strict COVID guidelines.
Players are keenly prepped for exciting competitions, which will see three divisions in the Men, Women and Second Division Men being contested.
Since it was impossible to host the annual Diamond Mineral Water Festival this year due to COVID challenges, ExxonMobil, usually a co-sponsor for that event, has generously stepped in to support the Guyana Hockey Board with this effort.
Six Men’s teams will contest the first division competition. These include the most recent national champions, the Pepsi Hikers, YMCA Old Fort, Bounty GCC, Saints, Guyana 40s and 50 Not Out. Apart from the regular cub sides, this year features two new team entrants comprising players preparing to contest the Indoor Masters World Cup in February 2022.
Guyana 40s will be made up of players 40 years or older, including Robert Fernandes, Chris Low and Devin Hooper, while 50 Not Out is the selection of 50 years and older players, the likes of Dexter Wyles, Damon Woodroffe and goalkeeper Allan Newark.
These two teams comprise mostly of former national players and, while the young energetic Men’s teams are likely to be difficult to overcome, these two first-time entrants promise some largely entertaining matches of youth versus experience.
The Women’s competition will feature many of the players who gained international experience this year at the Indoor Pan American Cup. Five teams will make up this competition with three being from the core of national players in the GBTI GCC Ignite, GBTI GCC Spartans and the GBTI GCC Roulette.
Aliyah Gordon, Marzana Fiedtkou and the Xavier sisters, Gabriella and Alysa are likely to be key players for these teams, while promising juniors Sarah Klautky, Madison Fernandes and Aosaide Cadogan will have an opportunity to showcase their improved games after international competition this year.
Saints has been the fastest improving side with young breakout star Clayza Bobb expected to lead their attack, while the Misfits will be mixing youth and experience being led by former national player Maria Munroe.
The Men’s second division competition will comprise of six teams in YMCA Old Fort, Saints Sensations, Saints Scorpions, Hikers Cadets, GCC Pitbulls and GCC War Dogs.
The competition begins at 17:00h on Monday (November 29th) and will run until Sunday (December 5th) with the finals beginning at 16:00h.
SEE TOURNAMENT FIXTURES: Exxon 2021 – Fixtures
