Harte to play in India?

With the second season of the official Indian professional league, the HIL, set to get under way in a couple of months, it looks like Kampong and Ireland goalkeeping star David Harte could be taking part. Hart is part of the shortlist draw potentially on his way over there, which runs a lot like the American drafting system for upcoming talent (i.e. NHL, MLS etc.). His Hoofdklasse side would be on winter break with the indoor season underway, and much like Cortes did last season at Den Bosch, would be back in time to wrap up the Dutch season, Euro Hockey League (in which he is also competing in, with his Dutch team mates, having helped them break into the competition last season) and onto international fixtures over the summer. George Pinner is another name that has been bandied about concerning the HIL, but haven't heard any other names as of yet.

You can read more about Harte and the Indian league here via Irish reporting here:

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/david-harte-on-shortlist-for-india-hockey-league-1.1572471

Blaak in the HIL

Along with Stockmann, Blaak was another goalkeeper included on an HIL team sheet. I'm not sure if he got a game in (need to check match highlights!) but just goes to show how well recognised Dutch goalkeeping talent is seen internationally. For example, Bazeley, Jabobi and Cortes only represented a single goalkeeper of their home nation, rather than two for Holland etc.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/my-dutch-teammates-are-my-enemies-in-hil-pirmin-blaak/article4316539.ece

Kumar: first Malaysian goalkeeper in the HIL

S. Kumar made history by being the first Malaysian goalkeeper to be involved in a professional league. I'm not sure if that also counts him being the first Malaysian goalkeeper to play abroad in another domestic national league, so would be interested to find out, with my knowledge lacking! Kumar has been a regular with the international set-up for Malaysia since 1999 and gives them a regular chance to do well in international games and tournaments thanks to his weighty level of game experience and shot stopping abilities.

 

http://www.fieldhockey.com/archives/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1772:news-for-04-january-2013&catid=51:january&Itemid=61

Bazeley adds India to the overseas leagues played in

George Bazeley, in for the shout as first choice (competing with Andrew Charter) for Australia, is another international goalkeeper that played in the recent India premier hockey league. Bazeley has played in the Hoofdklasse with Den Bosch before, before the Olympics, getting experience of the Dutch style of hockey and developing further. That makes him more well travelled than a lot of other goalkeepers and the chance to play in other elite domestic leagues other than the AHL (Australian Hockey League) is no bad thing!

India Hockey League sees plethora of import goalies

With the India Hockey League under way at the moment, it's be good to catch a glimpse of the many international goalkeepers who have signed to play in the league. Spain's Cortes has signed from Hoofdklasse club to play for the Ranchi Rhinos, Jaap Stockmann is playing for the Punjab Warriors and after a bit of searching, discovered that Germany's Niclas Jacobi is at the Delhi Waveriders. Would be interesting to see if any of the other top country's goalkeepers sign up or if it is just the Olympians who are been given contracts. Great chance for experience as with the talent in play like Glen Turner or Ashley Jackson and others playing can only help raise the profile for hockey which is normally seen as an amateur sport (obviously few paid players!). Surprisingly some of the domestic 'keepers have been recently given the start other the internationals but will have to see how further games pan out.

Here you can see Cortes in action and should be links to other games!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XusHgEqiBcc