Men's Pan American Cup - Change of Schedule

9 August 2013

Ali Lee, PAHF

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Men’s Pan American Cup, hosted in Brampton, Canada, will experience a change in schedule for the opening pool play matches. The opening match that pits Argentina against Mexico, as well as the Canadian home opener against Brazil will go on as planned on Saturday; however travel logistics have hindered two of the competing teams.

Both Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago faced traveling hurdles that have required the Pan American Hockey Federation to alter the competition schedule, pushing games to Monday and moving Tuesday’s competitions to Wednesday.

Prior to taking off from Montevideo, the Uruguay squad was delayed as severe storms resulted in their plane being struck by lightning. In addition, the Trinidad and Tobago contingency also faced a roadblock obtaining their visas.

To accommodate the delayed teams, both Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago’s opening matches have been moved to Monday, while the remainder of the scheduled has been moved down a day. The semifinals and final matches will all be played as originally scheduled.

All 20 games will also be broadcast live online via the Pan American Hockey Federation website at panamhockey.org

US warm-up against hor Chile..

The Pan American Cup in Brampton, Ontario commences on Saturday, August 10; The winner will advance to the 2014 World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. Men’s National Field Hockey team hosted Chile at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Cali. early this week for two, back-to-back friendly test matches in preparation for the 2013 Pan American Cup in Brampton, Ontario, August 10-17. The U.S. drew Chile, 1-1, in the first match and shutout Chile, 3-0, in the second match.
     “We have had a good training period leading up to the Pan American Cup and to finish with two good test matches against a quality opponent like Chile was a great last minute test for us,” said U.S. head coach Chris Clements. “We are excited for the tournament to begin.”
    USA’s Austin Greonveld (Jenkintown, Pa.) scored in the 13th minute for an early 1-0 lead over their opponent. The U.S. held on to their lead going into halftime and well into the second half. In the 48th minute, Chile’s Nicholas Renz scored to even the match, 1-1. The result ended in a draw.
   Ian Scally (Thousand Oaks, Cali.) celebrated his 100th match with the U.S. Men's National Team, while Greonveld, Alex Grassi (Brookeville, Md.) and Ranjot Sangha (Sacramento, Cali.) earned their first cap.
    “I thought this first match was an encouraging start," said Clements. "Although plenty of good passing patterns were seen today, we need to take advantage of opportunities that we create."
   The U.S. took the pitch again on Tuesday, August 6 for a final preparation match against their Pan American rivals. The U.S. scored three goals for a 3-0 shutout victory.
   USA’s Kevin Barber (Camarillo, Cali.) scored a field goal in the 29th minute for a 1-0 advantage at the end of the first half. Aki Kaeppeler (Ventura, Cali.) capitalized on a penalty corner in the 51st and Pat Harris (Moorpark, Cali.) recorded a third goal for Team USA in the 56th minute.
    “This series against Chile has been beneficial for us and it definitely is going to help us finalize our preparations for the Pan American Cup,” said U.S. midfielder Michael Barminski. 
   The U.S. departed for Brampton, Ontario on August 7 and will match-up against Trinidad and Tobago for a final preparation test match before the World Cup qualifying tournament commence on Saturday, August 10. The U.S. drew Trinidad and Tobago, 1-1, in regulation at the World League Round 2 in Brazil.
   “The matches against Chile and Trinidad and Tobago will help the selected squad become more cohesive and confident as a unit before the first match at the Pan American Cup,” said Clements.
    The U.S. enters the Pan American Cup as the No. 4 seed and will compete in Pool A alongside No. 1 Argentina, No. 5 Mexico and No. 8 Uruguay. Pool B is made up of defending champion and No. 2 seed Canada, No. 3 Chile No. 6 Brazil and No. 7 Trinidad and Tobago. The U.S. will open pool play on August 10 against Uruguay, followed by Argentina on August 11 and will conclude pool play against Mexico on August 13. Semifinal action will be played on Thursday, August 15 with the final slated for Saturday, August 17.
   The winner of the Pan American Cup earns the continent’s automatic berth to the 2014 World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands. The top six teams qualify for the 2017 Men's Pan American Cup while the teams placed 7th and 8th will play in the 2015 Men's Pan American Challenge.
    The U.S. Men’s Team won silver at the 2009 Pan American Cup in Santiago, Chile, their best finish since the tournament originated in 2000. The U.S. finished 7th in 2004 and 5th in 2000.
   2013 Pan American Cup Roster: Kevin Barber (San Diego, Cali.), Michael Barminski (Ventura, Cali.), Jed Cunningham (Moorpark, Cali.), Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Cali.), Mohan Gandhi (Ventura, Cali.), Jon Ginolfi (Moorpark, Cali.), Alex Grassi  (Brookeville, Md.), Sean Harris (Moorpark, Cali.), Patrick Harris (Moorpark, Cali.), Aki Kaeppeler (Ventura, Cali.), Brandon Karess (Allentown, Pa.), Christian Linney(San Diego, Cali.), Johnny Orozco (Ventura, Cali.), Chris Rea (San Diego, Cali.), Ranjot Sangha (Sacramento, Cali.), Ian Scally (Thousand Oaks, Cali.), Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Cali.), Tyler Sundeen (Simi Valley, Cali.)
USFHA media release

Pan Am bound stickmen stuck in T&T

With only two days left before they are due to flick off their campaign at the fourth Pan American Cup to be held in Brampton, Toronto, Canada, this country’s senior men’s hockey team was still without visas, confirmed tickets and accommodation for their stay in North America.
     Yesterday, the 18-man playing squad skippered by Darren Cowie and the coaching staff headed by former national goalkeeper Glen “Fido” Francis was expected to depart for Canada. However, when contacted officials at the T&T Hockey Board confirmed the team was still stranded in T&T.
   Pressed further, the official said despite numerous appeals to corporate T&T, the T&THB had been unable to secure the requisite funding to facilitate the team's participation in the upcoming Pan American Cup, which served as a qualifier to next year’s World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.
   Discussions are still being held regarding support for the undertaking given the penalties and setbacks the team may face if they fail to appear at the tournament. However, up to yesterday afternoon, the managerial staff had yet to secure the visas and tickets for the players and five-member technical staff.
   According to the local hockey board official, T&T’s failure to appear at the tournament will stifle the development of the team, and by extension hockey in the country, back a few years as a dip in the team’s ranking at this stage would put the team out of contention for a spot in the Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland next year.
   T&T is presently ranked 30th in the world and failure to appear at this tournament will also exclude the team from automatic participation at the 2017 Pan American Cup as only teams that finish among the first six in this year’s tournament qualify automatically for the next edition of the tournament.
  To qualify for the 2017 Pan American Cup T&T would have to first participate in the 2015 Pan American Challenge to earn a place and failure to appear also has potential to affect the national women’s team who is destined for Argentina in September for the women’s version of this tournament.
   Should the team get to Canada, it will open its campaign in Pool B versus Chile on Saturday from 3 pm followed by Brazil on Sunday, then play Canada on Tuesday to end round-robin pool play.
   Regional powerhouse Argentina, Mexico, USA and Uruguay are in Pool A.
  At the end of the pool round-robin series, the top two teams will advance to the cross-over semifinals while third and fourth go to semifinals for fifth to eighth spot ahead of the final playoffs for bronze and gold.

The Trinidad Guardian

THE REAL STORY BEHIND ASIA CUP

Malaysia were never meant to host the 2013 Mens Asia Cup.

    But a chanced audience with His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah, the President of the Asian Hockey Federation on May 19,2012 changed that.

   For I was summoned to appear before HRH at Istana Perak in Kuala Lumpur on that fateful morning to present the final draft of the SAS Cup souvenir program for a royal seal of approval.

   Accompanying me was the then MHF Asst Secretary Hashim Yusof and also present was the Sultan's Aide de Camp Kol Dato Rahim...... read more at http://www.malaysianhockey.blogspot.com/