Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
The Trinidad and Tobago Senior Men’s and Women’s hockey teams will participate in the upcoming XVI Pan American Games being held in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 19th to 28th, 2011. They qualified for this tournament via the CAC Games which was held in July, 2010 where the T&T Women’s team whipped the Mexicans 4-0 to take home the gold medal while the T&T Men placed 2nd losing to Mexico in the final.
Going into this competition the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board (TTHB) expects both teams to do well given recent performances. The TTHB believes that both teams have a realistic chance of medalling. With international standouts like Kwan Browne, Mikelle Pierre, Akim Toussaint and Dwain Quan Chan on the Men’s team and Blair Wynne, Stacey Sui Butt and Alanna Lewis on the Women’s team the TTHB is confident that both teams will be competitive.
In preparation for the Pan American Games both teams participated in various international competitions during 2011. The T&T Men visited the USA from June 12th to 21st where they played several practice matches against the USA Men’s team. They also visited Vancouver, Canada from July 13th to 25th where they participated in a 4-Nations Tournament hosted Field Hockey Canada where they played against Chile and Canada. At present they are in the UK playing several practice matches against various high level European club teams in final preparation for the games.
From July 1st to 3rd the T&T Women were visited by the Guyanese Women’s team en route to the Pan American Challenge, where they played a three match series. The T&T Women emerged victorious in all games played. They also visited Vancouver, Canada from July 13th to 25th where they participated in a 4-Nations Tournament playing against Chile, Japan and Canada. Their latest preparation was a two match series versus a visiting Barbados from August 13th and 14th where they also won both games.
Also joining the teams will be Willard Harris who has been appointed Tournament Director of games, while former World Cup and Olympic listed umpire Roger St. Rose will serve as the Umpires Manager. Rigel Gomes, Reyah Richardson and Nataki Akii Bua will perform duties as judges while Ayanna McClean will serve as an umpire in the Women’s competition. These individuals have all served Trinidad and Tobago with great distinction and dedication in the past.
