2024 Hong Kong MI5’s Hong Kong China
(April 20-27, 2024)
In the U7 category, we aimed for gold medals but settled for silver. U9A secured gold, and U9B consistently performed well. The U11B category faced tough competition in the semi-final but showed steady improvement. Meanwhile, the U11A clinched gold in a thrilling double-overtime match decided by penalty shots. Kudos to players who excelled, even when playing a category higher. Despite school commitments and challenges, I’m very satisfied with the overall tournament results. Special thanks to the passionate parents who created an electric atmosphere during matches.
Moving to the U15 tournament on our home rink, we looked for better results than in Korea. This unpredictable tournament allowed foreign players to join teams. Our team gained strength from Czech Republic players but missed Tristan until the final game. Our opening match against a North American selection team showcased high-quality play, although an unfortunate late goal led to a 3-2 loss. The subsequent match against the HK National team didn’t go well; we played cautiously and struggled to create chances. Despite specific preparation, execution fell short. The next day we didn’t think about defeat at all and we had the Tigers against us. A young and fighting team with an excellent goalkeeper. We knew that if we conceded the first goal, they would mainly defend and it would be very difficult to turn the game around. This is exactly what happened. We conceded an unfortunate first goal, but despite that we dominated the game and I knew it was only a matter of time before we turned the game around. In the semi-finals against the North Stars, they dominated right from the start and at the moment when we had a chance and could have dramatized the game, we failed and the opponent took the lead after that.
Despite the semi-final elimination, I’m positive. Players adhered to the system, and we improved behaviour on the ice and bench. Coaching this team was a pleasure, and I eagerly await the next season, hoping for continued growth. In the U13 A division, we rebounded after losing to IHA, securing a big semi-final win. However, the Greater Bay Lions shut us down with a 1-0 victory in the final. Our team performed well in tough moments, but hard work didn’t pay off. Finally, in the U13 B division, we remained undefeated until the semifinal against BKK Zeus. Unfortunately, the 1:30 am game worked against us, and Zeus defended critical areas effectively. Despite a strong showing, the tournament ended one game too early for us.
