ENGLISH ICE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION WOMEN’S SECTION
Volume 1, Issue 4 9th December 2012
G r e at B r i ta i n U 1 8 Wo m e n q u a l i f y i n i ta ly H i s t o ry i n t h e m a k i n g On Sunday 4th December 2012 in Asiago Italy GB U18 Women will go done in history as being the first U18’s female team to take part in a IIHF World Championship event, not only did they take part but competed with the best players from Italy, China, France, Kazakhstan and the tournament winners Hungary. Only two of the girls Saffron Allen and Captain Katherine Gale had any real understanding of what was in store for the team, the dates had changed for this qualifying event on a number of occasions and it was with much relieve in late September that it was confirmed it would be in Italy in December, much work was needed in a very short space of time to get the team prepared as much as possible – to this end the team staff worked tirelessly to get everything ready, Sean Alderson Head Coach, Tim Healand Ass Coach and Manager Sally Taylor set training sessions and a camp up to do everything they could to prepare the team. The relationship that these people had through the England Senior and 16’s
Female programme with players and parents would be invaluable in the preparation along with the much needed support of IHUK, So the team was selected and we departed for Italy on the Sunday 27th November giving us one day to settle in and get everything in place and an extra ice session, this was without doubt a very well worth and important part of the preparation ensuring the players where focused on the task ahead. The first game saw GB have to face the tournament number one seed in France in an incredible first period of hockey GB 3-0 France , GB saw France reeling from what can only be described as an outstanding performance from GB after the break France regrouped and tried
everything they could to breakdown the GB defense but an incredible performance from Rachael Pullen in the GB net made sure the shots would not be hitting the back of the GB net the third period saw GB concede one goal for the final score to end GB 3 France 1 having beaten the French GB was up for anything that could be thrown at them , it was just as well as day two saw GB up against
If you have anything you would like to share with the rest of the EIHA clubs and teams please email:Geoff.hemmerman@eiha.co.uk
Breaking News. GB U18 Women Qualifiers. GB U18 Women Photos GB U18 Women Team Photo Could this be YOU Players thank TASS What is TASS
GB U18 Women Ranked 12th in World following IIHF Qualifying Tournament
Judy Browne feels the weight of Italy on her back
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 Kazakhstan the second seeded team in echoing around the Arena, despite this the tournament as they had been sent GB started strong and with just under 4 from Division I to take part in the minutes of the period gone Allen levels championship while the 8-0 score line the scores, 5 minutes later GB take adsounds as this game was easy it was vantage of the powerplay and Bloom not and it took its toll on the girls. put GB ahead, less then 3 minutes later Day three was a much need rest day Italy equalized with a powerplay goal and chance to take stock in preparaagain Italia rings out around the Arena. tion for what we believed to be the 3 minutes later Italy breakdown the GB toughest team in the tournament as defense to take the lead, this lasted for we faced Hungary in the third game of only 2 minutes when Hill pushed the five, the game started fast and furious much as the French game had at 50 seconds Saffron Allen found the back of the Hungary net the lead was short lived and just after two minutes the score was level and shortly after that Hungary took the lead GB never looked like finding any way back losing the first period 5-1 it was an extremely tough game and Hungary where by far the biggest team in the tournament taking the game 8-0 while the defeat was GB U18 Women Captain very disappointKatherine Gale ing it was added to by the lose of 3 players through injury, the puck past the Italian keeper to level next game was Italy and with both once again end of second 3-3. teams on 6 points it was building for a huge game, the team staff had some Still all to play for as the teams step out shuffling of lines to do to get the team for the final period 9 minutes into the back in good shape in less than 24 period Italy score and go into the lead hours, for certain some of the players putting all the pressure back on GB with
PAGE 2 just 10 minutes remaining Italy pick up a 5 and game for a check to the head which also see Rathbone take no further part in the game 6 minutes later Adams finds the back of the Italian net to level the score and that how it stayed until the end of a very tense period with both tiring teams now looking to face a 5 minutes 4 on 4 overtime again players from both sides gave their all to gain the advantage Italy picked up a 2 minute penalty which put GB on the powerplay and just before the 64 minute mark Gale found the back of the Italian net once again to give GB the 2 points for the overtime win leaving Italy needing to beat Hungary in regulation time to take the 2nd spot. Day 6 sees GB taking on China which was an all or nothing game for China they need to win in regulation time to make it to second place it was once again a game that so the lead change with the score after 3 periods ending 2-2 even one point despite overtime and penalty shoot out would see GB safe if Italy beat Hungary something that would proof just to much for Italy, and that just how it ended. This is only part of the journey qualifying for the U18 Women World Championship in Tromso Norway 29th December 2011 to 4th Jan 2012 puts this young team under immense pressure as they have less than 3 weeks to prepare and recover from the battles in Italy. This group of young women not only pulled the GB shirt on with the lion on the front but wore it with pride they also had the heart of a lion inside never faltering in their quest to win, please follow these young women as they head off to Norway via the IHUK and IIHF websites
Thank you to everyone that has worked so hard to make this dream possible
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Hat Trick Girls Captain Katherine Gale and 3 against France and Saffron Allen 3 against Kazakhstan
Rachel Pulllen picks up her GB player of the game award against France unknown to her she would become GB Team player of the Championship
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The Girls are ready to go
Louisa Durnell, Shannon Jones and Louise Adams celebrate a goal against Kazakhstan
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Helen Emerson GBSC Player of the Tournament
Sean Alderson Head coach calls a time out in the Hungary game
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Back Row, Diane Slater Physio, Sally Taylor Manager, Shannon Jones, Helen Emerson, Jodie Bloom, Saffron Allen, Amy Campbell, Lily Highgate, Louise Adams, Beth Scoon, Kirsty Lake, Paige Henry, Loisa Durnell, Judy Browne, Beth Hill, Megan Rathbone, Millie Hooper , Brian Miller Equipment Manager. Front Row, Rachel Pullen, Monica Petrosino, Tim Healand Ass Coach, Katherine Gale Capt, Sean Alderson Head Coach, Sam Emerson , Bea Fletcher. What next for these young women— there is no doubt that each and everyone went above and beyond what anyone could have asked. I am sure that there are very few people that would have ever thought that when the above photograph was taken just before we set off to Italy that they would be assembling again in less than three weeks to take on the might of Japan, Norway, Austria, Slovakia and once again Hungary in Norway over the new year period, Italy was tough but what they now face will require every single ounce of effort determination, will power and physical effort they can find. Through their tremendous efforts they have launched GB U18’s Women into 12th place in the World Ranking a huge achievement—the challenge we now face is maintaining that position against some of the best teams in the world, follow us in Norway via the IHUK , IIHF and EIHA Websites
The GB Team Staff and IHUK are now pulling everything together that is needed to enable us to go to Norway with the best possible chance to succeed a huge task for them in less than three weeks. Sourcing ice and training time with only two available weekends is a huge ask but something that has to be done to give the players the best prepared anything less would not be fair on them—to this end if your players are requested to attend a GB U18’s Women’s training session the weekend of the 16/17 December please give them every bit of support you can. To the parents of these players I thank them for all the time and effort they have put into getting the players to where they need to be—to the players I know they will give everything they can for GB
Bea Fletcher and Saffron Allen both members of the GB U18 Women’s team have been short listed to carry the Olympic Torch look out for news as we get it.
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Then Rachel Pullen 2008 EIHA Girls School of Excellence Hull England
COULD THIS BE YOU NOW Rachel Pullen 2011 Great Britain U18s Women Netminder Asiago Italy
OR YOU
Then Shannon Jones 2008 EIHA Girls School of Excellence Hull England
NOW Shannon Jones 2011 Great Britain U18s Women Forward Asiago Italy
YES IT COULD BE IF YOU WANT IT ENOUGH
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Thank You To TASS For Your Support From the Following Players Saffron Allen Forward
Jodie Bloom Defence
Paige Henry Forward
Megan Rathbone Defence
Katherine Gale Forward
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Hard work, dedication, passion and investment of time and money, all these things have been a huge part of getting women's ice hockey to the level that it is now. When we talk of investment, it's extremely important to talk about an organisation who have invested heavily in our sport as for the last 3 years a number of our top athletes at both U18 and Senior Great Britain level have been in receipt of TASS funding. The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, or TASS as it is better known, is a Government funded programme that represents a unique partnership between talented young athletes, Women's Ice Hockey and the Higher (University) and Further (college/school) Education sector. TASS aims to help its athletes to balance academic life with training and competition as a performance athlete, something that is vital to the success of our ice hockey athletes. Supporting some of the countries top athletes, the impact of TASS’s investment was already evident at the Beijing Olympic/Paralympics Games in 2008, where TASS Athletes and Alumni won 19 medals (15 at the Olympics, four at the Paralympics). Athletes such as Tom Daley & Rebecca Adlington are all TASS Alumni. Two years later at the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, the only GB medallist was TASS Alumna Amy Williams, and 55 TASS supported Athletes and Alumni won 85 medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. But what does TASS mean for our women's ice hockey athletes? This
TASS & ICE HOCKEY year we have 12 athletes receiving TASS support. Each athlete receives financial support but they also have a team of dedicated coaches supporting their athletic development through their local hub, often their own university. This support comes as individually tailored Strength & Conditioning coaching, Physiotherapy & medical support and lifestyle mentoring giving our athletes the opportunity to build an athlete lifestyle while ensuring they succeed in their education. With a limited number of places on the scheme we are always over subscribed, with almost 30 applications this year for just 12 places competition is always tough to secure a place. But this year we are incredibly proud to have 4 GBU18's and 8 GB Seniors on the scheme. The GBU18's receiving the invaluable support are Katherine Gale, Jodie Bloom, Megan Rathbone and new onto the scheme this year Saffron Allen. GBU18 Paige Henry is also a TASS alumni having been on the scheme in 2010 2011. All the athletes will tell you, being a TASS athlete isn't easy, it takes commitment and dedication to attending all your training and assessment sessions, but talking about her S&C coach, GBU18 Katherine Gale who is going into her 2nd year as a TASS athlete knows how important this support his to her, ""I would like say a big thank you to my S&C coach Phil
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Price who helps me out on a weekly basis" and on missing her S&C session while she was in Asiago, she's hoping she wasn't in too much trouble!! Katherine, I think Phil will let you off! Megan Rathbone, another GBU18 athlete who is going into her 2nd year as a TASS athlete also has a great support team around her at Nottingham University Hub says, "It was an amazing feeling winning the first game against France which was unexpected, but then to go and qualify was a whole different feeling. I'd like to thank all of my TASS support team, Anna, Jenn and Natalie who have made me a better hockey player." When asking that question again, what does TASS mean for women's hockey? I think Megan's words are absolutely spot on.....what does TASS do for our athletes, it makes them better hockey players! As a sport, we still face many challenges in getting to where we know we can be, but with the support of TASS, we are well on our way to making the improvements we need and we owe them and their fantastic staff a huge debt of gratitude for investing in our sport and our athletes. Anna Walters - Women's Ice Hockey TASS Manager