Exclusive: Belgium star discusses his life-threatening pneumonia at the 2018 World Cup and why he is playing on until Paris Olympics
Fifteen minutes after the Olympic men’s final, as others were celebrating with a glass and a cigar, then assistant coach Michel van den Heuvel revealed recently that he was in the dressing room with John-John Dohmen discussing how to defend better against penalty corners.
“I don’t really remember that but it’s not a surprise to me,” Dohmen told THP this week, his memory likely blanked because he was also pictured in the aftermath with cigar in his mouth. “But we are always talking about hockey. Even when we win something we are thinking about the next tournament. It was the case after Rio with the silver medal in our hands and the next moment we were talking about winning gold in Tokyo.”
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Make: Otter Model: O90 Bow: Ultra Low – 24.75mm, 200mm from head # Carbon: 90% Premium Japanese Carbon Price: c. £170
Features:
The ‘O’ or Otter range sticks have been crafted to improve 3D skills which are essential in today’s modern game. It is a drag-flicker’s dream with a 24.75 mm bend, at a 200 mm bend point, and has a concave shaft for an enhanced slingshot action, which works by keeping the ball in the shaft whilst drag-flicking.
The thinned head and toe which allow for improved pickup of the ball when performing 3D skills that are essential in the modern game. Made with Japanese Toray Carbon, the stick retains its soft touch, even with a high carbon composition, whilst maximising your hitting and slapping power.
THP Verdict:
The O90 is excellent value. It is an incredibly light stick with nice touch and a solid strike. It is also great on the flick. The feel of stick enables good control for players of all standards. If you’re a touch player who also hits regularly and fancies their flicking skills, then you should definitely check it out.
East Grinstead men’s coach Tim Deakin says that a ruling should be enforced for Premier Division matches to be called off if teams have to put outfield players in goal.
Goalkeeper Sam Lloyd was taken to hospital with suspected concussion after an accidental first-half injury collision against Old Georgians at the weekend.
The Scottish hockey international was motionless on the turf before being assessed by medical staff and was later discharged from hospital. Deakin says that Lloyd is “on the road to recovery” but still struggling with dizziness and headaches.
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After 18 pandemic-ridden months, 50 youngsters were recently back playing on the two international standard pitches dedicated to hockey at Durham University’s Sports and Wellbeing Park at Maiden Castle.
Durham Hockey Juniors (DHJ) is a community hockey venture which sees three partners joining together, two hockey clubs, Durham University HC and Durham City HC, along with the University’s award-winning Community Team.
They are producing a sporting opportunity within Durham City and the wider surrounding communities to provide a first step on the England Hockey Performance Pathway.
Dave Miller, a long-time volunteer, said: “This builds on the support of a local hockey club DCHC, which had no home within Durham over 10 years ago, and who went back to the university to become part of a community link which has grown to include a junior section.
“This partnership allows everyone to win and builds on over 20 years of the universities links with the hockey community.
“DUHC have supported the development of local elite hockey players, some of whom stay on and study at the uni when they move to further education. This junior development means that recreational hockey players are now also supported by the amazing facilities and support developed at Durham.”
The local City Hockey Club, established for nearly 70 years, provides not only its volunteers but also the recreational pathway for local youngsters to play a lifetime of sport.
DHJ runs competitive sides from under-eight to under-16 level. Miller adds: “Once a child reaches 13 they are able to play adult hockey and DCHC has specific league development sides to allow a smooth and safe transition for those showing the temperament and skill sets to move through the sport.”
The programme is supported by three main sponsors. The first is Durham University, who supports the youngsters by providing them with the facilities and some expertise staffing, a contribution to the community which is not just confined to hockey.
The second is a new sports shop opened in Langley Moor. Peter and Amanda Kettle have provided sponsorship for DCHC and DHJ providing two new sets of playing kit plus providing all club kit at a shopping outlet within the City.
The third sponsor is Kate Marriott Design, a local Durham girl running her own graphic design business with two hockey-mad kids of her own. Although now living in the south she has provided her design and marketing expertise to hockey in Durham for many years and continues to do so.
Miller says: “With the help of these three main sponsors DHJ has flourished and now also looks the part.”
Wotton-under-Edge Hockey Club is in line for a bumper £100,000 prize to build a new community clubhouse.
The Gloucestershire club is one of 32 sports projects which has been shortlisted for the top prize from Persimmons Homes Building Futures fund, which has joined forces with Team GB to give away over £1 million to help projects for young people aged under 18 across the UK.
As part of a wider community sports and recreation facility, the club is seeking support for a funding project that might help realise its dream of having a clubhouse facility to serve the club and surrounding communities.
Brian Patterson said: “You can make an incredible difference to the future of a grass roots club, our players young and old and our fantastic volunteers with a simple act of sporting generosity.”
Meanwhile, Telford and Wrekin HC formally opened their brand-new synthetic turf facility last month.
The day involved the cutting of the ribbon, led by the Mayor of Telford and Wrekin; councillor Amrik Singh Jhawar, Councillors Eileen Callear, Richard Overton and David Wright and club president Mike Lowe CBE.
The Pitch In, ‘Buy a Pitch Square’ fund which was setup by Men’s Club Captain Alan Parham in July 2019 raised significant funds for the club and was revealed to all those in attendance. As well as club present and past members contributing to the fund, clubs around the country also donated thanks to reports such as The Hockey Paper back in April.
The day was rounded off by the Men’s 1st XI playing a Shropshire representative side which finished 6-2 to the hosts.
Club chair Gwynne Goodfield said: “We now have a state-of-the-art facility and hope this is the beginning of an exciting era for the club. I would like to thank all of the members of the club who have supported this project, as well as Telford and Wrekin Council, and the National Hockey Federation, who without their support, this project would not have been a reality”.
Trying to navigate through the minefield of online nutrition, working out what is good and bad nutrition is near impossible. DAN RICHARDSON plans to build your knowledge in nutrition specific for hockey and we begin with the 5 key components for you to implement for an improved performance and recovery.
WHY YOU SHOULD HYDRATE?
Aside the obvious health issue that come with being de-hydrated, suboptimal hydration or dehydration during hockey training and competitions is well known to reduce physical and mental performance.
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Dan Richardson joins The Hockey Paper as a sports performance nutritionist expert, who has been working with professional athletes, across a variety of sports, for the past four years
For my first article, I would like to introduce myself to readers. I want you guys to get a feel for me as a person and a writer, rather than jumping straight into rambling on about nutrition and hockey!
Most recently, I have worked as Head of Performance Nutrition at Warrington Wolves RLFC. In the past, I have worked with clubs such as, Sale Sharks, Manchester City FC, and England Touch.
I studied a typical route of a sports nutritionist, beginning with my Undergraduate Degree at Durham University in Sports Science, which naturally led to specialising in nutrition through a Master’s Degree in Sports Nutrition. I’m currently an accredited registered nutritionist with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr).
I currently work for my own company, DRN Nutrition, providing professional athletes, clubs and schools nutrition support. On our website we have a membership area where you find in-depth, personalised nutrition support.
I always strive to provide a ‘food-first approach’ to all nutrition and ensure my information is well backed by the latest research and science available. I am hoping I am able to provide valuable nutrition content to the readers of The Hockey Paper.
I will loop all nutrition information I give back to how it supports you as a hockey player, as I hope my articles can serve as a guide to providing you with better nutrition. Ultimately, resulting in an improvement in health, performance and recovery.
I look forward to hearing your feedback on my first article, if you have any questions just drop them in the comment section of the articles and I’ll try get back to you. Hopefully I’ll see some of you investing in your nutrition at www.DRNnutrition.co.uk/register. See you soon!
By Easter 2020, we had a specification for a bare bones league system. No scorers, match sheets or much else. If we could commission work soon, we’d easily get it, and the all-important API, live by our target of Easter 2021. Twelve months would easily allow us to crack the issues around match sheets, and to lay that on top. Building in modules had been planned from the start.
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In the new Aerocore collection, every element of the stick has been evaluated & optimised to provide the best performing sticks in Grays’ history. Using Aerocore technology the weight distribution is controlled to create a light pickup. The rear spine increases power transfer down the shaft and new handle technology allows for a stiffer composition without compromising control. This combines with the new Dynabow-S shape which features a reshaped head that is ideal for 3D skills and a thicker low backhand zone which helps to execute passes and shots on the reverse side.
THP Verdict:
This is a fantastic looking stick and a good offering for the intermediate player. It makes trapping the ball relatively easy and has very soft feel. The Low Backhand Zone revolutionises reverse stick hitting, and the AC-7 should be high on the list for those who hit a tomahawk regularly.
Afghanistan hockey has said that one of its men’s players, Najib Mohammad Zai, was killed in a bomb explosion last week.
It is understood that Najib died when at least five civilians were caught up in an explosion outside a mosque in the Afghan capital.
Mustafa Saadat, Afghanistan Hockey Federation’s president, told The Hockey Paper: “There was a painful incident in that one of our hockey heroes was killed in a terror attack.
“Unfortunately, we are witnessing that war kills many young countrymen of Afghanistan every day. It makes the family fear and deprives the country from human beings.
“While Afghanistan Hockey Federation is deeply saddened by the recent events, we pray for our friend in heaven.”
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