GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships serve off Sunday

Guyana’s National Hockey Champions will be determined over the next two weekends as the National Indoor Hockey Championships return to the international standard Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
The competition will once again see sponsorship from the GTT as it continues its 18-year partnership with the sport. The first puck is expected to move into action on Sunday, October 28, with action continuing on Sunday, November 4.
The competition features five divisions: Men’s and Ladies’ First Division, Men’s and Ladies’ Second Division and Veterans (over-35).

Bounty GCC will face their toughest competition in recent years when they tackle a strengthening Old Fort Lamborghinis, boosted by two of the top junior players in the skilful Omar Hopkinson and prolific goal-scorer Warren Williams. In addition, previous three-time champions Pepsi Hikers will be at full strength with the likes of their fantastic four – Robert France, Andrew Stewart, Jamarj Assanah and Aroydy Branford.
Old Fort Top Form are holders of the men’s Second Division trophy, and will be up against a powerful GCC Pitbulls side with several junior national players, including Captain Kareem McKenzie and Meshach Sargeant. The Hikers Cadets and Hikers Young Guns, SHC Silencers and SHC Sensations along with Old Fort Rogue and Phoenix round out a busy division.
The GCC Tigers have dominated this competition for the past 11 years and enter as the favourites to take the gold in the women’s First Division. Leading all-time ladies’ goal scorer Sonia Jardine will be on show, along with nationals Gabriella Xavier, Aliyah Gordon, Trisha Woodroffe and Marzana Fiedtkou in a star-studded line-up. Traditional arch-rivals, the Woodpecker Hikers will be gunning for top spot with the likes of national players Marisha Fernandes, Nicole Eastman and Latacia Chung. Old Fort Team 2.1.2. have been improving steadily and many of their players would be fresh off their recent victory in the Noble House junior indoor championships. Minsodia Culpepper and Bushani Kaladeen will lead their effort. Saints and the Bingo Spartans feature the youngest sides in the Division and will surely use their superior conditioning and quickness to create havoc among their senior rivals.
In new additions this year, the tournament has now expanded to include a women’s Second Division competition for the first time in its history which reflects the growth of the female side of the playing population. The female players now match in numbers with the males.
The newly-introduced women’s Second Division competition will find GCC Spice as a favourite among their junior opponents of Old Fort Goal Chasers, Bingo Spartans and Woodpecker Hikers. This division will feature many of the outstanding junior players recently on show in the Noble House junior championships.
Apart from the clubs contesting the competition, a national male junior squad will compete in the men’s First Division competition as Supernova, although they will not be eligible for the trophies. GCC Vintage are the double defending champions in the over-35 division, which once again sees challenges from the Old Fort Mustangs and Antonio’s Hickers.
Matches will begin on Sunday, October 28 from 14:00h and next weekend, players will return for the finals, on Sunday, November 4.