Perth Set for Best Ever International Super Series
The line-up for the 2013 International Super Series Hockey 9s is complete with what promises to be the most hotly contested edition of the innovative 9-a-side tournament to date.
Canada and Malaysia will join Australia’s Hockeyroos and world champions Argentina in the women’s competition in Perth, with the line-up for the men’s tournament seeing Australia’s world championship Kookaburras team go up against Argentina, Pakistan and Malaysia.
The Argentinian women’s team, known commonly as ‘Las Leonas’, will open the event on the evening of Thursday 17 October against Canada, who are coached by Australian Ian Rutledge. The Hockeyroos’ opening tie sees them take on Malaysia in the evening’s second match.
Newly-crowned Pan American Cup champions Argentina men will be the Kookaburras’ opening night opponents with Pakistan and Malaysia rounding off what is sure to be a thrilling first day’s play.
The Hockeryoos’ much anticipated clash with Las Leonas will take place on the Saturday afternoon, just ahead of the Kookaburras’ final pool phase game against Pakistan.
Confirming the final all-star line-up, Hockey Australia Chief Executive Cam Vale said he expects the 2013 event to be a real crowd-puller: “The support for the International Super Series Hockey 9s from the hockey community is always strong but I expect this year it will be even greater with our strongest ever line-up.
“There are very few occasions in team sport when fans can see both the men’s and women’s world champions in the same place at the same time so having both the Kookaburras and Las Leonas on show in Perth is something of a coup for hockey in Australia.
“We look forward to welcoming back the Malaysian women’s team and to hosting Canada for the first time at the Hockey 9s. Their participation, along with that of Argentina and Pakistan, means that we’ll see teams representing four continents going head-to-head and there will no doubt be a tremendous buzz about the place.”
Explaining another of the reasons the event has proved so popular, Vale added, “The International Super Series has really captured the imagination in recent years and it has been Hockey Australia’s desire to maintain its affordability for fans and families. It is particularly pleasing that we can offer junior and concessions tickets starting at just $10 for an entire day’s entertainment and families for $50.”
A four day festival of hockey, this year’s International Super Series Hockey 9s will provide something for every member of the family, including a Fans’ Fun Zone where younger visitors will be able to pick up a Hookin2Hockey stick and give the sport a go. And there will be plenty of opportunities to meet the stars of the show, Australia’s Olympic hockey heroes, and the chance to pose for a photo with the World Cup trophy ahead of the Kookaburras’ defence of their world title next year.
-HockeyAustralia