1. Team Performances
At the half way mark of the season the junior section had an incredible 13 of its 19 eligible teams sitting in the top four! Good luck for the run home everyone. Hopefully plenty of FHC kids playing finals hockey this year.
2. More Victorian Representatives!
Congratulations to Olivia Colasurdo and Libby Birch who have been selected in the recently announced Vic U13 girls team. Although our state representation is down this year, these things ebb and flow in terms of how top age (second year in an age group) nominees you have, etc. Our 2010 Victorian representatives are: Alexandra Leeder, Olivia Colasurdo, Libby Birch, Samuel Leeder, Georgia Hopkins and Bethany Russ. Congratulations to Patrick Meaney and Gabriel Smith who are emergencies (‘train-on players’) in their respective age groups, and well done to the many children who came close to state selection. And most of all, a great WELL DONE! to the 86 volunteers who are running the FHC junior section this year (see list on the junior noticeboard). Without the hard work of our volunteers year in year out we would have no junior players, let alone brilliantly trained ones.
3. State League 2!
Many would be aware that the Ladies and Mens State League teams are excelling in their first year in SL2 (both sitting third after 14 rounds – that’s one place off promotion to SL1!), and the main reason is easy to see. In the Ladies SL2 and 2nd eleven teams, 9 of the 13 players in each are from the FHC juniors, and likewise 9 of the 15 mens SL2 squad are from our juniors. Take out the overseas guest players, and the proportion of FHC juniors playing mens SL2 at FHC would be the same as the ladies. The rewards that we are reaping are coming principally because of the hard work that we’re doing at junior level (and through the excellent mentoring of these children through their senior teams). Get involved with the junior section everyone -its the guaranteed way to ensure that senior team success continue to come our way.
4. U17 Wildcats nominations are still being received, but you better hurry! Trials are to be held on Aug 22 and 29. The U17 State Championships are being conducted in the next school holidays.
5. Thank-you to the Mens State League Coach David Adesho and overseas recruits Javier, Gaston and Robbie for their terrific commitment to our junior players. The group are just about to finish their two month super-skills program which has involved all of our Shield level players. The men have also spent many hours at specific team training sessions helping the team coaches add polish to our young champions.
6. Junior Presentation Functions Pencil in the morning of Sunday October 10 as the possible date for our junior presentation functions (one group 10.00 – 11.00 am, the second group 12.00 – 1.00 pm, rep player photo in between).
7. Welcome to super-coach Peter Nalder who has stepped in to the U15 West (Red) coaching void now that Fidz has gone overseas to run the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
