United States

By Jawwad Qamar

Moorpark, CA: The 2005 California Cup International Hockey Tournament begins today with 140 teams from eight countries competing in 12 divisions ranging from Mixed Under-9 to Men/Women Super Divisions at the Moorpark College and Cal Lutheran University venues. This 34th edition, of the tournament more popularly known as the Cal Cup, will feature over 1,500 players, making it perhaps the biggest ever. Matches will start at 7 a.m. and end around 7 p.m.

The inaugural tournament in 1972 included only six teams and Cal Cup has continuously grown ever since, attracting teams from all over the globe.
This year, in addition to teams from USA and Canada, there are teams from Argentina, Holland, India, Ireland, Mexico and Taiwan.

While the competition will be exciting through out, the fiercest action will no doubt take place in the Super Divisions, where both men and women will be competing for the winner take all $5,000 first prize. The favorites in the Men?s Super Division for the title, including the loot, are the aptly named Boekaniers from Holland. The Dutch club has featured a number of Olympic Gold Medalists, such as Marten Eikelboom and Peter Windt, in the past.
However, they will get a run for their money from Ciudad De Buenos Aires of Argentina who are here with their own armada of internationals with the likes of Santiago Capurro, goalkeeper Mariano Chat and the always remarkable Jorge Lombi. And I?m sure Namdhari of India will also be hungry to play for pay!

In the Women?s Super Division, last year?s winners Slime from California should repeat but it won?t be easy. The Ontario Juniors from Toronto are a determined bunch and will have a say in the outcome.

?We at Cal Cup are very excited about such a wonderful turnout this year,?
said Tom Harris, the proud tournament founder. ?And also can?t ask for any better weather. This will be great fun for all who love our sport.?

This year the tournament is also getting a special visit by Terry Walsh, the newly appointed Technical Director of High Performance for the US Field Hockey Association. ?We?re very pleased by the visit of Terry Walsh,? said Silvia Scally, Chair for this year?s Cal Cup and a great player of her day.
?We look forward to him becoming an influential factor in training of our local players.?

In addition to nonstop hockey, there will also be an umpire?s clinic held and conducted by the renowned FIH Umpire, Ray O?Connor. For details on the umpires clinic, hockey schedule and/or directions to the hockey fields, please visit www.calcup.net.

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