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November 19, 2008

Indio, CA - The sport of field hockey takes a starring role in southern California next weekend, as USA Field Hockey continues a long-standing holiday tradition Thanksgiving weekend when the sport’s national governing body conducts its annual National Hockey Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, November 27 – 30.

In addition, USA Field Hockey will welcome leaders of the international field hockey community to Los Angeles when the USA hosts the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) 41st Congress, Nov. 23-30, 2008. Held every two years, the FIH Congress represents the ultimate authority governing the conduct of field hockey’s International Federation. At the Congress, over 300 delegates from the FIH’s 123-member national associations meet to conduct the business of the Federation.

During the Congress, the FIH will announce the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards. The nominees are among the world’s top international players and stars of the 2008 Olympic Games. Last year, Luciana Aymar of Argentina won the Women’s Player of the Year Award for the fourth time in her career; Australian Jamie Dwyer was crowned Men’s Player of the Year in 2007.

Player of the Year nominees and FIH Congress delegates will visit the National Hockey Festival on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27.  Player of the Year nominees are tentatively scheduled for an autograph session.

The 2008 National Hockey Festival is the world’s largest amateur field hockey event, featuring 225 team from 24 states, the District of Columbia and Canada, as well as a team visiting from Zimbabwe. More than 4000 athletes will compete for titles in Women’s Age Group (Under 16 and Under 19), Women’s Open and Mixed (co-ed) divisions and will play 732 games on 26 fields during the event. This year’s tournament will also feature a four-team Boys (Under 16) division.

"This is a wonderful venue,” said Karen Collins, Director of Event Logistics for USA Field Hockey. The Festival returns to the Empire Polo Club for a seventh time. “The fields are excellent and the weather is beautiful. The players, the parents, the officials – everyone always looks forward to spending their Thanksgiving here in Indio.”

The Under 19 tournament is the Festival’s largest division competing for pool championships. In addition to providing a showcase for the sport and the chance for athletes to compete against players from across the country, the Festival allows prospective college athletes an opportunity to perform before a gallery of collegiate coaches gathered from some of the nation’s top programs.

The Mixed division features members of the USA Field Hockey Men’s and Women’s National Teams:  2008 Olympian Lauren Powley highlights the True North team that also features current National Team members Arjan Reyatt, Jarred Martin and Brian Schledorn. 

In the Open Division, another 2008 Olympian, defender Lauren Crandall provides a solid backline for the Detroit Club, and National Team goalkeeper Barb Weinberg mans the cage for Team Hawkeye.

The event marks the 13th time California has hosted the Festival. Indio and the Empire Polo Club entertained the tournament in 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 1997 and 1995, while Irvine (’87, ’88, ’90, ’93) and Long Beach (’83, ’84) also played host to the event. Competition runs throughout the day during the four days of the Festival with games beginning at 7:00 a.m. (8 a.m. on Sunday). Final games of the day are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. (noon Sunday). Admission to the event is free of charge.  Parking at the Empire Polo Club is available for a daily fee. 

Originating as the National Sectional Championships and national team selection tournament in 1922, the Festival adopted its current multi-divisional format in 1981 by introducing tournaments for high school-aged players, club and open teams.

Additional information on the Festival, as well as teams, results and rosters is available on the USA Field Hockey Festival website at www.usafieldhockey.com/festival.

USA Field Hockey is the National Governing Body for the sport of field hockey in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As such, USA Field Hockey is responsible for the training and selection of athletes for international competition as well as the promotion and development of the game of field hockey in the United States.

The nominees for Player of the Year:

Women’s Player of the Year 2008

Naomi van As (NED)
Luciana Aymar (ARG)
Minke Booij (NED)
Baorong Fu (CHN)
Natascha Keller (GER)
Carla Rebecchi (ARG)
Fanny Rinne (GER)
Janneke Schopman (NED)

Men’s Player of the Year 2008

Pol Amat (ESP)
Jamie Dwyer (AUS)
Bevan George (AUS)
Robert van der Horst (NED)
Barry Middleton (GBR)
Teun de Nooijer (NED)
Tibor Weissenborn (GER)
Timo Wess (GER)

Women’s Young Player of the Year 2008 – born in 1985 or later

Crista Cullen (GBR)
Ellen Hoog (NED)
Janne Muller-Wieland (GER)
Maartje Paumen (NED)
Qingling Song (CHN)

Men’s Young Player of the Year 2008 – born in 1985 or later

Desmond Abbott (AUS)
Simon Child (NZL)
Jeroen Hertzberger (NED)
Ashley Jackson (GBR)
Eddie Ockenden (AUS)

For more information of the Player of the Year nominees, visit www.worldhockey.org. NOTICE:
Statement on behalf of the Empire Polo Club
"Dogs are specifically prohibited on the grounds of the Empire Polo Club. Please do not bring your pets to the National Hockey Festival venue."
www.empirepolo.com

USA Field Hockey to allow approved protective eyewear at membership/developmental events

 

The National Hockey Festival

The world's largest amateur field hockey event, USA Field Hockey's National Hockey Festival traditionally attracts more than 3,500 athletes from across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean competing for titles in men's and women's divisions including women’s age group (Under 16 and Under 19), boy's age group (U16, U19), women’s open, men's open, sectional, masters (women 35+), veterans (men 30+)  and mixed.

Originating as the National Sectional Championships in 1922, the Festival adopted its current multi-divisional format in 1981 by introducing tournaments for high school-aged players and club and open teams.