TT encouraged by Pan Am hockey show

LONDON: Trinidad and Tobago’s team manager Jason Thomas is encouraged by the squad’s fourth place performance at the 2nd Pan American Hockey Cup. TT narrowly missed the bronze medal, surrendering an early lead and losing to Chile in the bronze medal match on Sunday, but the Caribbean side satisfied themselves that they were able to secure a top four spot at this hemisphere’s highest level. “Although they ended up fourth, it was nothing to be ashamed of. We are the fourth highest ranked country in the Pan American region, which is an accomplishment in itself,” Thomas told CMC Sport.

Thomas said their main target at the championship was to reach the semi-finals and they are happy they achieved it.  “In that regard we met our primary objective, we got into the top four. Although we didn’t get the bronze, the team is quite happy with what it was able to achieve,” he added. Thomas believes they now have a platform to build for greater success. “We now know where we are, compared to the other countries in the region and we’re now looking to build upon this and break into the top three over the next year or two,” he said. Trinidad and Tobago, the reigning Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games champions, had started the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Canada, but rebounded to post big wins over Mexico (5-2), Uruguay (9-1), and the Netherlands Antilles (4-1).

They lost 8-1 to eventual champions Argentina in last Friday’s semi-final and slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Chile in Sunday’s third place play-off. TT captain Kwandwane Browne, voted tournament MVP, gave TT the lead in the 14th minute, but Felipe Montegu struck twice for the South Americans to snatch the victory. “The match was extremely tight. Basically it came down to who could convert their set plays, and on the day, Chile was the better team, they were able to convert the opportunity that they got,” Thomas said.