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Post by cjeagle on Jan 7, 2013 10:21:44 GMT 8
Hockeys back. The NHL lockout is finally over. Can't wait till the season starts.
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Post by macduff on Jan 13, 2013 12:57:27 GMT 8
I don't know who was the first Filipino drafted into the NHL but GK Jomar Cruz was drafted from the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2nd round of the 1998 draft by the Washington Capitals. He went back to school and played for the University of Manitoba Bisons and never played in the NHL. He is a coach now in junior hockey.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 14, 2013 2:19:03 GMT 8
I am sure there are many more Filipino kids who have played in minor and major junior hockey leagues all over North America although not too many that I know of that has been drafted by an NHL team. Unfortunately size and bulk is a prerequisite in majority of cases at the professional level and our stature puts us at a disadvantage.
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Post by cjeagle on Oct 6, 2013 8:32:36 GMT 8
prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/05/wilds-dumba-set-to-make-nhl-debut/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcswww.startribune.com/sports/blogs/226590981.htmlFirst NHL player of Filipino heritage Matt Dumba made his NHL debut tonight for the Minnesota Wild. At 19 he is the youngest defenseman to play for the Wild in their history acc. to the article above. He must be doing good, since it is very rare for a junior player to go straight to the NHL. They normally have to play in the minors first(AHL). Of course, the Minnesota Wild still have the option of returning him to the juniors after a 9 game audition in the NHL, if it does turn out that he is not quite ready. If so, this is actually a good option for Matt, to continue his development since otherwise he will be stuck on the bench for the Wild and not playing rather than playing 20 minutes a game for his junior team where he can continue to improve his game. Here is what his coach had to say prior to the game. Yeo said, “I’m excited for him. This guy’s a big part of our future. He’s had a really strong camp, so I’m excited to get him there and see how he goes out and performs at this time of year. We’ve seen it. We saw it Game 1 for us, the pace of play, the intensity picks up right now, so you want to see how he handles that.”
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Post by cjeagle on Nov 20, 2014 13:28:33 GMT 8
20 y/o Matt Dumba has made the NHL team Minnesota Wild as a regular this season, with a goal and 2 assists in 15 games so far this season, although only on limited minutes. Because of his age and inexperience, he might still be sent to the minor league affiliate Iowa Wild for seasoning as his defensive play still needs some work.
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Post by cjeagle on Jun 26, 2015 2:20:05 GMT 8
The 29th Southeast Asian Games, hosted by Malaysia in 2017 will feature five additional sports, included, for the first time, two winter sports: icehockey and ice skating (the latter included figure skating and short track) as confirmed last June 4th in the SEAGF Executive Committee meeting held in Singapore.To stage a sport at the Southeast Asian Games, the rules require participants from at least four National Olympic Committees. It's still uncertain which countries will compete in icehockey. The Games involving participants from the 11 countries of Southeast Asia. Between them, only Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have a regular hockey activity and compete in Challenge Cup of Asia as IIHF members. Philippines and Indonesia are countries where hockey is played randomly and along with Vietnam could fill the last mandatory spot. "We realised we've never had winter sports at the SEA Games even though we have athletes competing at the Winter Olympic Games and other international competitions," said Chris Chan, secretary general of the Singapore National Olympic Council at The Straits Times newspaper - "So we thought maybe we can include a few winter sports that are more popular in the region, and ice hockey and ice skating were the obvious choices." "The reason for lobbying the two sports is we've constructed three big ice-skating rinks in Kuala Lumpur, and we've taken part in the Asian Games and on an international level," he added." said Sieh Kok Chi, secretary-general of the Malaysian NOC www.eurohockey.com/article/3999-ice-hockey-will-debut-at-2017-southeast-asian-games.htmlPhilippines have sent athletes to four Winter Olympics and Thailand three, while East Timor sent one skier to Sochi, Russia last year but the other eight Southeast Asian nations have never participated in a Winter Games.
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Post by cjeagle on Oct 31, 2015 10:20:04 GMT 8
With ice hockey set to be introduced at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Malaysia in 2017, Fil-French coach Francois Gautier said the other day he’s assembling a top-flight squad to represent the country in going for gold. “Our focus is on youth, that’s where the future of ice hockey in the Philippines lies,” said the 32-year-old Gautier. “We’ve got over a year to scout for Filipino hockey players around the world. We know there are outstanding Filipino players in Iceland, Germany and Switzerland, among other countries. We’re reaching out to them. One of our prospects is Fil-Swiss Steven Fuglister. We’re also counting on Filipino talents like Brian Wong, Daniel and Danilo Pastrana, Julian Santiago, Carlo Garrucho, David Samson, Miguel Relampagos and two teenagers who play in our adult league, Gelo Tigaronita and Jan Aro Regencia.” Guatier recently piloted the Philippines to the 13th annual BOCI-Prudential Asset Management Ice Hockey Tournament title in the premier Gold Cup division at the Mega Ice Center in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, with a squad whose average age was in the range of 30 to 35. The team was made up of Filipinos, Fil-foreigners and expatriates who live in Asia. The victory was a positive sign that the Philippines will be a gold medal contender at the SEA Games. The tournament was played six-a-side including the goalkeeper with two periods of 20 minutes each. The Philippine squad was composed of Gautier, Carl Montano, Daniel Brodan, Gaelen Hallenbeck, Ryan Charland, Florian Pacquelin, Jorell Crisostomo, Tomas Koteles, Scott Young, Julius Santiago, Antton Nordberg, Pierre Navasero, Nico Cadiz, Paolo Spafford and L. R. Lansero. Young, 46, was the oldest and Crisostomo, 15, the youngest in the roster. Nine teams participated in the competition – United Arab Emirates Storms, Japan Yokohama, Macau, Qatar Oryx, Taipei Sharks, Japan Mitsubishi, Mongolia Capitals, Hong Kong Giants and the Philippines. The teams were split into three groups. In the preliminaries, each team played the other two teams in a group once. The leaders of each group advanced into a playoff round then the top two placers faced off in the final. The Philippines trounced Mongolia, 6-1, and the Giants, 7-0, in the preliminaries to top its group. In the playoffs, the Philippines downed the Storms, 4-1, but lost to Mitsubishi, 6-4. That set the stage for the final between the Philippines and Mitsubishi. The Philippines got back at Japan, 3-1, to claim the Gold Cup. Charland, a Canadian, was the tournament’s top scorer. Dean's Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 It was sweet vindication for the Philippines. Last July, Gautier led the national team to third place in the adult division of the annual Hong Kong Fives. Five players on that squad – Gautier, Santiago, Crisostomo, Montano and Spafford – saw action in the BOCI-Prudential tournament. In the Hong Kong Fives, the Philippines won four in a row then lost to the Tokyo Mavericks, 3-1, in the semifinals. A match in the Hong Fives was played in three periods of 12 minutes each. Gautier said while he’s busy trying to assemble a pool for the SEA Games, the Federation of Ice Hockey Leagues (FIHL) is tying loose ends to secure certification as a national sports association from the POC and affiliation with the Finland-based International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The SM Lifestyle Entertainment group is supporting the efforts to recognize the FIHL. Gautier said ice hockey is a relatively expensive sport. “We play two days during the work week in the league and practice on weekends,” he said. “On the average, each player pays between P500 to P1,000 per game for the ice use. Our uniforms cost about P1,500 to P2,000 and a helmet between $50 to $250, depending on the quality. A stick is anywhere between $50 to $300. Pads are about $200 each and we’ve got shoulder, elbow, shin and all kinds of pads. A puck weighs 4 to 5 ounces and is made of rubber. We buy hundreds of pucks to keep in inventory and they’re about P4 to $5 each.” Gautier said there is growing interest in the sport, thanks to the SM Group that makes available its rinks at the Mall of Asia and Southmall for hockey. “In the adult league, we’ve got four clubs with16 to 18 players each,” he said. “There are about 20 kids in the age range of 13 to 17 playing in the adult division. They’re starting young and they can only get better with experience.” Gautier said the top ice hockey teams in Asia come from China, Japan and Hong Kong. In the SEA Games, expected to crowd the Philippines in the race for the gold medal are Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. He said once the FIHL is recognized by the POC, it can apply for assistance from the PSC and speed up the training program for the SEA Games. www.philstar.com/sports/2015/10/30/1516342/focus-youth-ice-hockey
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Post by cjeagle on Nov 1, 2015 11:48:12 GMT 8
Ice hockey in the Phl? Yes! BUSINESS LEISURE By Ray Butch Gamboa (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 3, 2015 - 12:00am Ice hockey is a highly popular and competitive Olympic sport, but did you know that we have now developed a competent, very disciplined Philippine ice hockey team that presently competes internationally? And may I add, they have reaped honors and brought in gold medals and respectable wins for the country in their recent competitions in Southeast Asia. But that is getting ahead of the story. Thanks to the SM group, we now have ice rinks in the country, and thanks to the dedication of the parents of these young hockey players, we now have a Team Pilipinas proudly wearing the red, white and blue colors of the country. The Philippine Hockey Team, playing under the banner of the Federation of Hockey Leagues, got together at the new Highlands Prime Steak House in Estancia at the Capitol Commons in Pasig, their first real get-together after a string of victories in the Southeast Asian circuit at the invitation of restaurateur-sportsman-businessman Chris Sy, also known as the godfather of the Philippine Ice Hockey Team. Chris got involved in the sport when his son got hooked on the discipline while playing it in Canada during his summer vacations there. Ice hockey then was already starting to get some serious players in the Philippines, but these groups were fragmented under several independent leagues. With the aim of uniting these leagues under one umbrella and creating a cohesive group dedicated to the sport, the Federation was born. Hans Sy was invited to join as chairman, with the different league representatives sitting in the board as directors. It was off to a good start as the tycoon’s scion was fully supportive of the sport and the team. To be sure, ice hockey is not a cheap sport. Ice time costs a lot, and with the amount of time needed to train, these young players had to settle for after-mall hours, from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight. Though not exactly an ideal set-up, these budding athletes persevered, and with their very supportive players, Team Pilipinas began to gel and get better with time. These are the divisions where our ice hockey team competes: the Squirts for 10 years old and under; the Peewee for the 14 and under; the Bantam for 16 and under; the Women’s Team, the Juniors for 18 and under, and the Men’s Team. The youngest in the team is six years old and the oldest is 42, and at the moment we now have 170 players in the Federation. Two weeks ago, the Philippine Team’s Squirts division won an impressive third place in the Malaysian Invitation Ice Hockey Competition, but the Peewees snagged the gold. The Men’s Team also bagged the gold in the recent Hong Kong Invitational, a back-to-back gold finish for us. The potential is there, all we need is to push our athletes, provide them with good training, and of course get funding for them to successfully compete in international tournaments. Steve Hontiveros, secretary general of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) was there at the get-together, and the good news is, the POC recognizes the new Philippine Ice Hockey Team, but they still have to be a member of POC to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. As Steve explained, the Philippine Sports Committee is the government arm that handles the funding, but it is the POC that gives the go-signal for any team to participate in international competitions as a Philippine team. The Southeast Asian Federation has included ice hockey for the SEA Games in 2017 to be held in Malaysia, and we have two years to train our young athletes. Should the POC take the Federation under its wings, it can lend much-needed support by sending our local coaches for training abroad, or getting an international coach to come here to train our local coaches and holding seminars for officiating in hockey games. Steve says this is equally important for international competitions. We see hockey games on TV where hefty players in the professional leagues compete, but the brand of play of our Philippine Team is not exactly like that. The local program is under the auspices of the International Ice Hockey Federation where there is no dangerous physical contact. Besides, the protective gear the young hockey players don include a full helmet with a full cage or full visor for all players under 18 in compliance with the International Ice Hockey Federation rules, shoulder and shin straps that go with a protective padding for the upper body, a neck guard to protect against slashing, hockey gloves, elbow pads, game socks, jocks and padded pants to protect the lower body, and of course the ice skates and the stick. The players are well protected against injuries, but this gear also comes with a hefty price. The challenge is to raise funds for the team because not everybody can afford the gear or the ice time. Chris has been busy talking with possible gear sponsors from the United States, even some rink operators in North America to donate their old equipment. Some multinationals and local corporations have been lending their support as well like Manulife, Highlands Prime Steak House, SM, and Flying V, to name a few. He is also bringing in a sports nutritionist to guide the athletes, but there is still much to be done and he is hoping more Philippine companies and multinationals will heed his call to support this young sport which has so much potential. We may not have the heft, but among fellow Southeast Asians, we are all in the same league as far as physique is concerned. Chris says we should explore and build up our speed instead to stay competitive. The parents who were there at Highlands, moms and dads, were just as excited as their kids, and their dedication is admirable. The Asian circuit is building up as Singapore and China are forming their invitational tournaments, Malaysia and Hong Kong already have theirs, and the Philippines is set to hold its first ever hockey international competition by November. Things are shaping up for ice hockey in the Philippines. For parents interested in having their children try hockey, e-mail the federation at info@hockeyphil.com. Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino. www.philstar.com/business/2015/10/03/1506422/ice-hockey-phl-yes
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Post by cjeagle on Nov 9, 2015 7:23:21 GMT 8
Filipino-Canadian makes NHL history By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) | Updated November 8, 2015 - 12:00am Matt Dumba MANILA, Philippines - Only one player with Filipino roots has made it to the National Hockey League (NHL) ranks and Fil-Canadian Matt Dumba, now seeing action for the Minnesota Wild, is in the record books for the breakthrough. Dumba, 21, is on his third season with the Wild. He played in 13 games in 2013-14 and 58 last season. This campaign, the six-foot defenseman has scored two goals and four points in 12 games so far. Dumba’s not exactly turning the NHL upside down but as the only player with Filipino lineage ever to perform in the world’s premier professional hockey league, he deserves recognition. The NHL was organized in 1917-18 and operates out of New York City with 30 franchises, seven Canadian and 23 American. The NHL is to hockey what the NBA is to basketball. Dumba was picked by Minnesota in the first round of the 2012 NHL entry draft and played for Canada at the 2014 World Junior Championships. Unless there is a rule allowing Dumba to play for another country because of heritage, he may not be eligible to skate for the Philippines at the Southeast Asian Games in 2017 and that’s even assuming pros will be allowed to suit up. Another Filipino Jomar Cruz was selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 1998 NHL entry draft. Cruz, 35, is the son of Filipino expats and was born in Canada. The 6-1 goalkeeper never made it to the NHL but played in four Western Hockey League (WHL) seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Tri-City Americans and Portland Winter Hawks. The WHL is a Canada-based major junior league. Cruz used to coach the Opaskwayak Cree Nation Blizzard in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and now manages the team. Andrew Sharp, 31, is probably the most experienced pro hockey player with Filipino lineage ever although he never broke into the NHL. Sharp has played over 10 years in North American and European leagues. He made his mark with the Guildford Flames in the English Premier League and also played in the British Elite League. Known as a hard-nosed enforcer, he averaged 20 scraps a season during his prime. Sharp was born in Manila to a British father and a Filipina mother Valentina de Leon. He moved to Quebec with his parents when he was six. Sharp owns and operates a hockey school called SharpShooter Hockey Training in Quebec during the summer when the 6-1 ring wing isn’t playing in England. Dumba’s Filipina mother Treena was one of nine adopted children from all over the world by his grandmother Rose. In the NHL where 90 percent of the players are Caucasian, Dumba stands out because he looks more like his mother than his Romanian father Charles. Willie O’Ree broke the color barrier in the NHL in 1957, 40 years after the league was established. Dumba will never forget his grandmother nor his cousins of various races. On his left arm is a rose tattoo with rosary beads falling from under the petals, a tribute to his grandmother Rose and his Catholic upbringing. On the left side of his torso is a large dragonfly, another tribute to his grandmother. It was inspired by the dragonfly that landed on his grandmother’s urn at her funeral. “My grandmother was a saint,” said Dumba quoted by Phil Ervin in USA Today. “I don’t really ever think about race myself. That’s just kind of how my grandmother brought up my mom and that’s how my family is.” Dumba was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and began skating when he was three. At 16, Dumba gained 12 pounds of muscle working with personal trainer Tommy Powers and began to show real potential as a future NHL player. A younger brother Kyle is a goaltending prospect in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. Described by experts as an offensive defenseman with a heavy slap shot, Dumba established solid credentials in the WHL where he made his debut in 2009-10. He was the WHL’s rookie of the year and took the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for his efforts. “Matt’s a guy who can do all aspects of the game,” said WHL coach Don Hay. “He’s a very dynamic player with or without the puck. He can lay out a good bodycheck but he can also score the overtime winning goal.” Dumba made his first NHL appearance with the Wild against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 5, 2013. He scored his first NHL goal a week later against the Dallas Stars. That turned out to be his only goal that season. Dumba came back to notch eight goals and 16 points in 58 games for the Wild the next campaign. No matter where the road will eventually take Dumba, his place in Philippine sports history is guaranteed. He’s the first and the only player with Filipino roots to make it in the NHL. www.philstar.com/sports/2015/11/08/1519658/filipino-canadian-makes-nhl-historyI actually told the writer about Matt Dumba and he promptly wrote an article about him.
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Post by cjeagle on Jul 4, 2016 4:20:10 GMT 8
The Philippines finally joined the IIHF, the governing body for Ice Hockey last May. www.iihfworlds2016.com/en/news/iihf-grows-in-asia/"The International Ice Hockey Federation grows to 77 countries after Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines have been admitted as new associate members. Like Indonesia, the Philippines are an island country in Southeast Asia consisting of over 7,000 islands and with a population of 100 million people. 211 players from five clubs are registered in the Philippines where four ice rinks can be used, the main one being the SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink in Pasay City next to the capital of Manila. The other ice rinks are at Megamall, Southmall and the Seaside Cebu Ice Skating Rink. Click on the video link on the right to watch a presentation of ice hockey in the Philippines. In 2017 the Southeast Asian Games are set to have an ice hockey tournament for the first time ever. The event that has taken place biannually since 1959 will take place in Malaysia and with Indonesia and the Philippines joining previous Southeast Asian IIHF members Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, all these countries could potentially enter a team." __________________ Hopefully we can field a competitive team for the SEA Games, where winter events like ice hockey, and other winter indoor sports will make their debut. Uploaded on May 19, 2016 Presentation video of ice hockey in the Philippines, one of three members who joined the International Ice Hockey Federation on 20 May 2016 during the 2016 IIHF Annual Congress
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Post by cjeagle on Jul 4, 2016 4:42:41 GMT 8
In Manila, Philippines, a place with a tropical climate, has ice hockey. Filipinos find a way to play the fast-paced, physical sport despite limited resources and funds.
Video on hockey in the Philippines.
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Post by cjeagle on Jul 4, 2016 4:55:02 GMT 8
Aside from NHL Minnesota Wild defenceman Matt Dumba, the highest profile ice hockey professional player of Filipino origin is retired Manila born Fil Canadian Andrew Sharp who plays the unique role of enforcer(designated fighter on the ice) on his teams.
Andrew Sharp, Filipino Pro Hockey Player, has built a reputation during his 9yrs Pro Hockey career as a fierce enforcer who wins championships. Interestingly it was apparently his Filipina mother who nurtured his love for hockey when he was young.
Andrew Sharp fight highlights
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 8, 2017 12:38:06 GMT 8
sports.mb.com.ph/2016/11/25/29-filipino-athletes-to-compete-in-2017-asian-winter-games/Chef de Mission Carrasco said it will be the first time that the Philippines is sending a big delegation to the quadrennial tournament slated Feb. 19 to 26 in Sapporo, the capital of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Carrasco, who is also president of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), said 23 of the 29 athletes are members of the ice hockey team which won a Division 2 tournament in Hong Kong. The Filipino figure skaters and ice hockey players are using the Asian Winter Games as pre-SEA Games tournament. Figure skating and ice hockey are among five sports to be introduced in the 2017 SEA Games slated Aug. 19 to 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Carrasco has submitted the names of the 29 athletes and nine coaches to the Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee when he attended the first Chef de Mission Meeting in Hokkaido last week.
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 8, 2017 12:42:46 GMT 8
www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=11391A few days later the Asian Winter Games, a multi-sport event taking place every five years, will begin in Sapporo with four ice hockey tournaments being held 18-26 February. Japan, China, Kazakhstan, Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand will battle it out in the women’s tournament while on the men’s side the record 20 teams are seeded into three different tiers. Kazakhstan, Japan, Korea and China will play for the men’s title and will, same as the women, use the Tsukisamu Gymnasium. The six-team Division I tournament will take place at the Mikaho Gymnasium and includes Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Singapore. The remaining teams will play the Division II in two groups at the Hoshioki Ice Skating Rink. Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Macau, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Bahrain and Iran are entered for this competition. The seeding was done according to the World Ranking for the top teams and according to the Challenge Cup of Asia results for the others. For the newer IIHF member countries Indonesia, the Philippines and Turkmenistan it will be the first international tournament. The National Olympic Committees of Bahrain and Iran also entered ice hockey teams for the tournament but are not IIHF members. Three times IIHF Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Asia The IIHF Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Asia program will again include three tournaments and is aimed especially at Asian countries that are not entered in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship program or do not yet fulfil the requirements to do so. The Thai capital of Bangkok will both host the men’s and women’s top events of the program. First the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia will be organized 7-15 March. The teams will be Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand U18 and the Philippines. The latter two teams will participate in the women’s event for the first time ever. It will take place at the international-size ice rink of the CentralPlaza Grand Rama 9 shopping mall.
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Post by cjeagle on Aug 4, 2017 5:14:21 GMT 8
PH finds unlikely sporting success in ice hockey Two decades ago, the closest thing to ice hockey the Philippines could relate to was a Disney movie. “The Mighty Ducks,” which came out in 1992 and spawned 2 sequels, is the story of a ragtag bunch of players put together to form an unlikely winning team. Because of its theme, the trilogy tugged at the heartstrings of underdog-loving Pinoy moviegoers. Who knew that some 20-plus years later, life would imitate art in the form of the Philippine national hockey team with its own feel-good story. “Before (hockey in the Philippines) used to be in the form of pick-up games. Then, it became a little bit more organized about 10 years ago when we have more formal practices, regular practices. Two and a half years ago, we formed a federation,” said Francois Gautier, a Frenchman born and raised in the Philippines who currently serves as the general manager of sport’s national governing body, the Federation of Ice Hockey League. The winter sport’s growth in this perpetually warm country can be traced back to the malls, particularly SM Megamall and SM Southmall, because of their ice-skating rinks. The Philippine Ice Hockey Team battles it out against the Chinese Taipei U20 squad. Courtesy of SM Skating From those simple beginnings, Gautier and his group have come a long way, their ascent in continental competition capped by a bronze medal at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan in February, where the Filipinos finished with a 3-1 record. Gautier’s team has amped up training as the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur near. The Filipinos are favored to win the gold. Given that the ability to maneuver effortlessly on frozen ground and perform in sub-zero temperature is a basic requirement, the assumption is that the team’s roster is made up of players recruited from the icier parts of the world. But that’s not the case. The squad is composed mainly of homegrown Filipinos mixed with foreign-born Filipino players who have been living in the country for years. “You have to be Filipino to be part of the national team, by international rules you're not allowed to have foreign players. They need to come here to the Philippines, live and play here for minimum 2 years in order to be eligible,” Gautier said. Gautier said the federation takes pride in having a winning team without getting foreign reinforcement. To date, the national hockey team has a record of 5-1 in international competition. “It’s not in the best interest of the federation or hockey in the general in the country to import players. Kung maganda ang development program mo, bakit mo kailangang mag-import?” he said. Unlike basketball or martial arts, hockey gear is expensive. Basic equipment that includes a helmet, a stick, a jersey and pants, shin guards, skates and various body pads cost up to P50,000. Rental fees for ice rinks can drive up the cost, too. Gautier says the team has benefited from generous entities, from the government through the Philippine Sports Commission to private-sector help such as the SM group, that are either as passionate as the team about hockey or are just keen to see it succeed. “There’s a lot of pride in that group. We don't like to lose that's for sure,” Gautier said. “Even if we do lose, we make sure we play our best that the country would be proud of us.” news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/17/17/ph-finds-unlikely-sporting-success-in-ice-hockeyContrary to what this article indicates the Philippines is not favored to win SEA gold. Thailand is the favorite to win it all.
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