USA Field Hockey Crowns U19, U16 Division Champions at National Hockey Festival in Indio

INDIO, Calif. – USA Field Hockey crowned 27 high school-age group division champions – including 10 from the state of Pennsylvania – as the annual National Hockey Festival continued at the Empire Polo Club.

The tournament concludes Sunday with championships in the adult open and mixed divisions.

Pennsylvania was once again the overall winner at the Festival for the age group division taking eight gold medals in the U19 division and two pool championships in the U16 group. The field hockey hotbed captured seven pool titles in 2005. Eight states and a team from British Columbia split the remaining pool titles. California, Maryland and New Jersey earned three titles each , while Delaware and Massachusetts captured two titles and Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky  and Canada earning one Festival crown apiece.

In addition to their championship medals, teams winning their pools receive a coveted automatic berth in next year’s National Hockey Festival when it returns to Indio in 2007.  Other participants for the filled-to-capacity event are selected via a lottery held in the spring.

In the women’s open division, four time champion Red Rose advanced to the championship game along and will take on Spirit USA for the title.

In the mixed division Raptors will meet East West Sports Camps  in one semifinal while White Mountain Sports  will take on Jack & Jill  in the other semifinal match.

The world’s largest field hockey event, the Festival features 3,800 athletes competing in more than 700 games during the course of the four-day event.

www.usfieldhockey.com