Hikers Hockey Club bullies off 2012 season with “House and Land” Tournament

The Hikers Hockey Club recently started the 2012 hockey season by hosting the second annual “House and Land” Tournament.
The tournament which was only open to Hikers members was named in honor of long time Hikers player Alex Gouveia, who migrated to the United States of America in 2011.

Standing from left, Reginald Harper, Gail Harding (Club Secretary), Alex Gouvia, Aroydy Branford, Paramanand Dindial, Kevin Edwards

Gouveia was given the nick name “House and Land” because of his unwavering intensity and commitment to winning in both practice and games, for his club. The four-a-side tournament was staged at the St. Stanislaus College Forum where thirty four of the club’s members were split up into six teams for the three night event.
At the end of the round robin stage it was Running Rebels that held the edge over Hot Skulls by 11 points to 10 with Smurfs, L.M.F.A.O., Hype and Black Hawks rounding up the other four positions.
In the quarterfinals Hype disposed of L.M.F.A.O. 1-0 on penalties after the game ended 0-0 and Smurfs took care of Black Hawks by 1-0 in the dying seconds of the game, while Running Rebels and Hot Skulls received byes into the semifinal round.
Running Rebels blew away L.M.F.A.O. 3-0 in their semifinal encounter mainly due to the outstanding play of Aroydy Branford while the other semifinal saw Smurfs edging Hot Skulls 2-1 on penalties after their match ended in a draw in regulation time.
The finals was a close encounter with both teams playing defensively until the second half when the individual skill of Branford and Gouveia took over and they were able to get the winning goal past the Smurfs defense. This tournament is the first in an ambitious schedule of 11 tournaments that the club plans to host this year, 6 of which will be open to all clubs while the remaining 5 are for Hikers members only.
The Hikers Hockey Club will also be opening its 2012 fundraising drive by hosting its first annual fundraising dinner and awards ceremony on March 5th, at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel.
The event is planned to raise funds for the club’s expansive junior development program.
Final Results of the Hikers Hockey Club 2012 “House and Land” Tournament;
Champions – Running Rebels (Alex Gouveia, Maria Munroe, Aroydy Branford, Reginald Harper, Paramanand   Dindial & Kevin Edwards)
Runners-up – Smurfs (Robert France, Makini Harry, Rayon Branford, Leon Bacchus & Devon Scott)
Third Place – L.M.F.A.O. (Shane Samuels, Allana McCullock, Colonel Heywood, Michael Harding, Sade DeVeaux & Shundel Durant).