The cream of the country’s junior hockey players will be in action this weekend in the Hikers Hockey Club/Global Technology Schools and Club tournament beginning today at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
Over 100 players are expected to participate in the tournament now in its third year
The event has become one of the most prestigious junior tournaments on the local hockey calendar and a high standard of competition is anticipated.
The tournament is divided into two categories, one for Club players in the following age groups under-13, 16 and 21 years as well as the Global Technology sponsored Inter-school Competition.
The Global Technology tournament will see defending champions St. Stanislaus College coming up against national champions Queen’s College, Christ Church, Marian Academy, St. John’s College and North Ruimveldt Multilateral.
Marian Academy are defending champions in the under 13 category and look strong favorites to retain their crown.
The dominant GCC girls will also be favored to retain their under 16 and 21 titles in the Club competition although the fast improving Hikers may have other ideas.
Old Fort and GCC are pre-tournament favourites to dethrone Hikers in the under 16 category although they will be hard pressed to match skills with the vaunted Hikers under 21 boys, who have had a stranglehold on local junior tournaments over the past three years.
Bully off is at 10:00 hours today with the under 13 category, which will be followed by the under 16 categories while tomorrow, the schools competition will kick off from 9:00am followed by the under 21 categories.
