[www.inewsguyana.com] – The national junior hockey squad defeated Paragon Hockey Club 2-1 to start their Trinidad tour successfully in the warm-up encounter on Monday.
With a high paced first half being played, none of the teams were able to score despite of a number of chances being created.
However, a surging run from Captain Mark Sargeant was neatly finished by Aroydy Branford halfway through the third quarter to give the Guyanese the lead.
Less than half a minute into the fourth quarter, Branford scored again with a superb finish as he benefited from some crisp passes from his teammates.
Paragon’s pressure would eventually break down the Guyanese defense when Leon Bacchus’ desperate attempt to prevent a goal hit his foot on the goal line. The resulting penalty was scored by Trinidadian national player Akim Toussaint as the Guyanese boys ran down the clock to win the game.
This developmental tour is the first step in the Guyana Hockey Board’s ambitious plan to develop and expose this group of youngsters to international competition with the intention of building a team for the 2016 Junior Pan American Cup in Toronto, Canada.
This trip was made possible through an Olympic solidarity team support grant as well as the Ministry of Sport and individual sponsors.
