Features
USA Hockey Guy predicts the new season!
September 5, 2014 | 1,656 views | Comments (1)As the final part of The Hook’s preseason build-up, we have enlisted the help of Twitter’s finest Leinster Hockey analyst – or “Eastern Conference” as he prefers to call it – to give us his predictions for the new season!
McConnell swinging for Hurley stability
September 5, 2014 | 538 views | Leave a commentAndy McConnell has told hoofdklassehockey.nl he is hoping his club, Hurley, can achieve a level of stability in this year’s Dutch top division following an excellent 2013/14 season.
The season starts here – men’s Leinster Division One preview
September 4, 2014 | 2,455 views | Comments (2)New season and ten new-look squads begin their men’s Leinster division one campaign after an extremely busy summer of transfer dealings as the chasing pack attempt to close the gap to Monkstown, winners last year after a 40-year wait.
Stephen Jenness scores a one-handed wonder
September 3, 2014 | 713 views | Leave a commentLast Sunday, on the first day of the Belgian championship, New Zealaner Stephen Jenness – playing for Herakles in their stunning 6-3 win – scored this scorcher against the Waterloo Ducks.
Russell shoots Syracuse to four wins in-a-row
September 3, 2014 | 432 views | Leave a commentFormer Old Alex forward Emma Russell was one of the stars of the opening week of Syracuse University’s season in the US as they won four games in succession on the road.
Bann’s Bears and Pegasus Flyers land first cups of 2014/15 season
September 1, 2014 | 319 views | Leave a commentBanbridge Bears and the Pegasus Flyers claimed the first trophies of the Irish hockey club season in Havelock Park on Sunday as they won the Anderson Cup and McCausland, Light and Rankin Cup, respectively.
Irish trio help Racing salvage Daring draw
September 1, 2014 | 545 views |Video highlights of Racing Club de Bruxelle’s Irish troupe, comprising Chris Cargo, Conor Harte and Alan Sothern, salvaging a last gasp draw against EHL-bound Daring, the side that beat them to third place in the Belgian league last year on day one of the Honour Division
VIDEO: What made Santi Freixa so good
August 31, 2014 | 558 views | Leave a commentSpanish hero Santi Freixa announced his retirement from international hockey on Saturday, feeling his body would not be able to withstand the rigours of another Olympic campaign towards Rio de Janeiro.
The Irish abroad – breaking Bruxelles
August 26, 2014 | 767 views | Leave a commentWith the Belgian Honours Division starting this weekend, the Racing Club de Bruxelles trio of Alan Sothern, Conor Harte and Chris Cargo concluded preseason with an impressive showing at the Five Feathers tournament in East Grinstead last weekend.
The Cookstown Ice Bucket Challenge
August 26, 2014 | 568 views | Leave a commentAt this stage, most have probably encountered the Ice Bucket Challenge (in support of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association – text donations to 50300), but few have done it in as bizarre style of Cookstown, calling out 2011 Euro Hockey League rivals
“Irish people want to play with endeavour” – Smith and Lock reflect on Tri-Nations series
August 25, 2014 | 357 views | Leave a commentWith Ireland’s 5-2 win over Spain on Sunday, it brought their goal tally to 36 in eight games over the course of their Tri-Nations series in Belfield, a rare glut but one that is perfectly in keeping with Darren Smith’s philosophy for his Irish team.
Nineteen Irish players signed up for 2014 US college season
August 25, 2014 | 3,056 views | Comments (3)The new US colleges season sees 19 Irish players vying for the division one NCAA title with Sarah Hawkshaw, Katie Miller, Philippa Cotter, Lauren McGrane, Edel Nyland and Kate Harvey adding to the wild geese.
How hockey compares to lacrosse and hurling
August 25, 2014 | 1,757 views | Leave a commentJury’s have come up with a nice infographic to show the key differences between Gaelic games and other similar sports; here’s the hockey one, comparing it to hurling and lacrosse.
Smith: right decision ultimately reached but manner served to damage free-flowing tie
August 22, 2014 | 632 views | Leave a commentDarren Smith said the right decision was ultimately reached in denying Ireland a winning goal in game three this week against Spain though the manner the umpires reached the outcome “caused a bit of damage” to an otherwise free-flowing game; photos and interview piece
Fulton lays out Green Machine programme for Road to Rio Olympic Games
August 20, 2014 | 992 views | Leave a commentIrish men’s senior coach Craig Fulton has laid out an extensive day-by-day plan up to the end of August 2015 that he is keen that all stakeholders, including club coaches get on board with, as they pursue the Olympic dream.
Same scoreline as Spanish changes help pick off under par Irish performance
August 18, 2014 | 426 views | Leave a commentDarren Smith said his side “struggled to adapt” to a different Spanish approach in their second game against the world number 14s as their intensive summer of training and games continues
Smith reflects on Irish conversion rate against Spain
August 16, 2014 | 322 views | Leave a commentDarren Smith said he felt a “little hollow” after his Irish side had plenty of good things to reflect on from their Tri-Nations game against Spain but ultimately fell 2-1 to hand the visiting side the honours from the first of four series this week.
O’Flynn hungry for more goals – all the interviews and photos from France win
August 15, 2014 | 347 views | Leave a commentFrom the sounds of things, four-goal scorer Audrey O’Flynn won’t be satisfied with less than double figures when Ireland meet France for a second time in their Tri-Nations series on Monday.
Monkstown’s Latin-infused EHL opponents Daring make preseason statement
August 10, 2014 | 686 views | Leave a commentMonkstown’s EuroHockey League opponents Daring have shown some impressive preseason form over the weekend with wins over both Bloemendaal and Oranje Zwart.
Social Mediawatch – taking down the Kiwis
August 7, 2014 | 1,129 views | Leave a commentWith preseason in full swing, there’s plenty of hockey shenanigans about the world wide web this week – Southern Fried have a great interview with Yvonne O’Byrne, Glenanne’s tweet of the week, NZ’s hockey player curse and eye-catching transfers…