28.06.2015, Brussels; The second day of the first ever EuroHockey5 tournament started again in Malta in even hotter temperatures today!
All games in the morning were very important with the last pool games being played to decide who will play in the finals and the bronze medal games.
It was decided that Malta would play Croatia in the girls’ bronze medal match and Malta would play Slovenia in the boys’. And that Italy would play Turkey in the girls’ final and Croatia would play Turkey in the boys’ final.
The girls’ final was a superb game with both teams playing great hockey in great spirits but Italy managed to convert their opportunities very well and won the girls’ tournament with a 3-0 win over Turkey.
The girls’ bronze and silver medals were presented by Victoria Tabone, and Natalie Busuttil Leaver, and the gold medals by EHF Vice President Carola Meyer. The girls’ player of the tournament was Sara Puglisi, the captain from Italy.
The boys’ final was a very exciting game and both teams saved a lot of energy for it as the game got very heated with both teams playing their hearts out. Turkey eventually won the game 7-3 over Croatia which was a superb turnaround from their performance yesterday; they scored in the last second in the game against Slovenia taking the game to shootout which they won, and meant that they only had to win against Malta this morning in order to get to the final, which of course they did.
The boys’ bronze medals were presented by EHF Development Manager Norman Hughes, the silver medals presented by Umpire Manager Rob ten Cate, and the gold medals presented by President of Malta Hockey Association Chris Busuttil Leaver and tournament organiser David Agius. The boys’ player of the tournament was Ilinovic Mario from Croatia.
EHF Development Manager Norman Hughes said; “The EHF Hockey5s Mediterranean Cup proved to be hugely successful with all teams improving their play throughout the weekend. The trial rules of the 11 meter shooting zone and the altered board designs proved to be a great triumph and we have challenged Turkey to stage the next Hockey 5s tournament in 2016.”
The Development Manager of the Hockey Association of Malta and the organiser of the tournament David Agius said; “I am very pleased with the outcome of the event and what I would like to see is that the game of Hockey5s becomes a tool for hockey development so that more people can enjoy our sport. This tournament has served us to introduce girls hockey to Malta and I hope that the tournament leaves a legacy to help the hockey association of Malta to get more girls and boys playing hockey.”
Jamie Hooper, Chair of the EHF Youth Panel, who was volunteering at the tournament with Aggelis Giannakopoulos from Greece said; “I am hugely proud that the EHF Youth Panel was able to be a part of another new initiative for the EHF, along with ParaHockey. The tournament was absolutely a great success and I am looking forward to seeing how Hockey 5s develops across Europe”
Follow the event on Facebook to see all media updates: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hockey-Association-Malta/275857422448655?fref=ts
See all results here: http://ehf.ceelectwebsite.co.uk/competitions/2015-eurohockey5-mediterranean-cup-girls/
Action from today!
Pictured: All the teams!