Hockey juniors preparing city play

MEMBERS of Hockey Ballarat are getting ready for a big weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday the association’s players will play at three Melbourne-based venues in Hockey Victoria’s Grassports Junior Country Championships.

Hockey Ballarat president Cristin Ruyg said the event will be a big one for the organisation.

“The Country Championships are a significant event in the regional hockey calendar and our juniors are always extremely excited to participate and play against the other tough and competitive country teams from across the state,” she said.

“I know they will give it their all and represent us strongly.

“The coaches and players have been working hard, and with their determination I know they are going to make us and the Ballarat community really proud.”

Male and female players throughout each age group are entering the event, with each including representatives from HB’s five local clubs.

Ms Ruyg said the event is all about giving younger players the experience of elite-level hockey playing.

“The Junior Country Championships are an excellent opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and compete against some of the best players from across regional Victoria,” she said.

“It gives these kids the opportunity to experience what representative hockey is and the flow on is we then get our elite players stepping up again to represent our wider region in the Junior State Championships which will be later on in the year.

“We have local players now, representing the state and country Victorian teams, who would have played in these championships when they were younger, providing them with their first tastes of representative hockey.

“It’s great to see new cohorts of kids coming through and getting those same opportunities and experiences, and growing that love and passion for sport.”