Wednesday June 13, 2007
Wildcats all set for the challenge
Photos by GLENN GUAN
DEXION Wildcats will be stepping up against stiffer competition at the ongoing World Ice Hockey 5s being held at the Megabox Complex, Kowloon Bay in Hong Kong.
With their success in lifting the Asian B division at Sunway Pyramid Ice Rink last season, the Wildcats earned the promotion to feature in the Asian A division for the tournament.
The four other teams competing in the Asian A category are HK Hitmen, HKAHC, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Macau.
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Hong Kong, here we come: Players and officials from Khas in jovial mood during the flag handover ceremony.
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The Wildcats open their campaign against the HKAHC today.
“We want to prove that our only win – over Hong Kong – at the sixth Asian Winter Games in Changchun, China was not a fluke. We are hoping to register a win over the HKAHC – comprising Hong Kong national players in the side – in our opening match,” said Wildcats captain Gary Tan.
Besides the HKAHC, the Wildcats are also wary of the threat coming from HK Hitmen and UAE.
“In the preliminary rounds, we need to chalk up at least three wins for a chance to qualify for the final. Only the top two sides will advance to the final playoff,” added Tan.
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Point to prove: 'We want to prove that our only win – over Hong Kong – at the sixth Asian Winter Games in Changchun, China was not a fluke,' says Tan.
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For the past three months, the Wildcats had been training three times a week to prepare for the challenges in Hong Kong.
“Only two of our regulars – Jeremy Chee and Azmin Yang Razali – have not joined the 17-member squad in Hong Kong. However, Ahmad Bazli Abu Safian and Teh Ton Tee have been showing good progress as key players in defence and forward respectively,” said Tan.
Stocky Adrian Chow will be changing role, from a defender to a place in between the posts along with regular goalkeeper Abdul Hakim Ismail.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Slayers led by Maisie Chui will also be featuring in the women’s category against six other teams – WIHO, Wendigos, Macau Marauders, Red Bullets, Manila Ice Vixens and Macau Asian All Stars.
“We are excited to be making our debut on an Olympic-size rink in Hong Kong,” said Chui. Last year, we finished second of four teams. We are definitely aiming to go one better to emerge as champions. But, it is going to be an uphill task because of the stronger competition. We want to do our best to encourage the fairer sex to take up a challenging game.”
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Aiming to inspire women: 'We want to do our best to encourage the fairer sex to take up a challenging game,' says Chui.
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In addition, four budding players – Nurul Ain Khadijah Mohd Zaki, eight, Shahrul Ilyas Abdul Shukor, nine, Nurul Badrul Arie Versluis, 11, and Ryan Edward Monteiro, 12 – from the Kelab Hoki Ais Saga (Khas) are competing in the junior categories.
Three officials, including team manager Susan Loh, are accompanying the players to the tournament.
“It costs a player RM1,500 for the trip. Khas is subsidising each player to the tune of RM500. Meanwhile, Dexion Asia is the team sponsor for the Wildcats,” said Loh.
At the recent flag handover ceremony on Sunday last week, Khas patron Datuk Lee Hwa Beng pledged RM5,000 to ease the players’ financial burden.
“The players have taken their own initiative to take part in an international tournament. We want to encourage them to lift their game to a higher level,” said Lee, the Subang Jaya assemblyman.
A total of 1,100 participants from 61 sides representing 15 countries will be in the fray at the tournament.
The players and officials left for Hong Kong yesterday.
