Regular followers of The Top of the D’s Twitter feed will know that when I am not on the treatment table or in the dugout, I am actually a goalkeeper. I have been a goalkeeper my whole hockey career, and I love it. Some people say that you don’t have to be mad to be a goalkeeper, but it helps. I don’t necessarily subscribe to this, but I do agree that goalkeepers are a different breed. Continue reading
The dust has settled on a hugely entertaining and keenly contested Olympic Hockey Tournament. There were some wonderful technical skills on display and some exciting, close-fought matches. This bodes well for the game and its global image. Everything seems to be rosy in the garden. Everything, that is, except the video referral system. Apart from Barry Davies and Sean Kerly’s commentary, video referrals have been the most talked about topic among the hockey-watching public this past few weeks. Continue reading
Things were going swimmingly for Great Britain’s ladies in their opening match of the London 2012 tournament. Cruising to a 4-0 win against Japan, the crowd lapping up the performance of their heroes and the clock running down to a comfortable three points.
With four minutes left to play, Captain Kate Walsh was struck in the face with a stick and left the field with what was later discovered to be a broken jaw, which threatens to prematurely end her tournament.
The Top of the D has already given a run-down of the teams to compete in Pool A of the Women’s Olympic Hockey competition here. Now, it’s the turn of those in Pool B:
Argentina. World Ranking: 2.
Champions Trophy 2012, winners, World Cup 2010, winners, third in Beijing 2008, Las Leonas are many people’s favourites for the gold medal this time out. With their tournament pedigree and the quality in their squad it is not difficult to see why. Continue reading
The Top of the D has already taken you through the teams vying for the Men’s Olympic Hockey medals. Now, with the games mere days away, it’s the turn of the women.
Netherlands World Ranking: 1.
The world’s number one ranked team comes into the London Olympics as the reigning champions. They qualified for the tournament by virtue of winning gold at the EuroHockey Nations tournament by beating hosts, Germany. Continue reading
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