T&T senior men’s hockey team ended its four-match tour of the United Kingdom with a 4-1 win over English Hockey Conference League club, Indian Gymkhana on Tuesday. It was the fourth win in six matches on the one-week tour for the “Calypso Stickmen” who were using the matches as part of their preparations for next month’s Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. On Saturday, the local squad which included the UK-based trio of Kwandwane Browne (Canterbury), Dillet Gilkes (Chelmsford) and goalkeeper Justin Pascal (Brunnel University), participated in a mini-tournament against Canterbury II and Horsham HC which it won. T&T coached by Bas Bruin defeated Horsham 5-0 and 5-1 in their two encounters while it drew 2-2 with Canterbury II before securing a 3-1 win in the second meeting to top the competition.
In their other matches on tour, T&T which was without the services of Browne due to injury and Gilkes, club commitments played to a 2-2 draw with Canterbury I. The locals who are expected home today, were beaten in their first match on tour last Thursday, 3-2 by First Division club, Teddington, a few hours after arriving from T&T. For that encounter, T&T was also with Browne and Gilkes due to club commitments. The local players who travelled to the T&T included Darren Cowie, Aidan De Gannes, Andrew Viera, Javon Woodward, Shaquille Daniel, Alan Henderson, Mickell Pierre, Kiel Murray, Tristan Grant, Christopher Scipio, Evan Farrel, Akim Toussaint, Karlos Stevens (GK) while Glenn “Fido” Francis served as assistant coach. The team was without the Petrotrin trio of stalwarts Atiba Whittington and Solomon Eccles due to work commitments and Dwain Quan Chan due to medical reasons.
Prior to the tour of the UK, the T&T men’s team participated at the Four-Nations Classic hosted by Field Hockey Canada where it had wins over Chile, 4-3, 4-3 and 3-1 and losses against Canada 1-9, 0-2 and 2-4. At the Pan American Games from October 20 to 19, T&T will face Chile, Canada and Barbados in Pool A while Argentina, Cuba, Mexico and USA are in Pool B. The tournament is a qualifier for next year’s London Olympics.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt