Kruger Blitz light up the Eagles Hockey League

The Eagles tournaments play a key role in local hockey development.

December 13, 2024

Blake Linder 1 minute read

Caleb Erasmus was named the player of the tournament in the senior men's edition. > Photos: Blake Linder

The Eagles Hockey League was held recently with great success, helping the sport’s development in Ehlanzeni for the fifth year running.

Having started in 2020, the Eagles Hockey League is a series of eight five-a-side tournaments wherein hockey players participate across four age groups for Eagles glory. The league was founded with the aim of aiding development of local hockey talent within a fun and social, yet competitive environment.

There are boys and girls tournaments in U13, U15, U17 and senior age groups. Many young local hockey stars see their budding careers kick into gear through the Eagles. This includes players from less fortunate backgrounds who otherwise might not get many other opportunities to play hockey.

Caroline Jack of the Blyde Heats, who won the senior women’s tournament. > Photos: Blake Linder

Further, young umpires, officials and coaches also get the opportunity to take charge during Eagles and begin honing their skills off the field.

The league features four franchises – Blyde Heats, Kruger Blitz, Legogote Strikers and Panorama Swifts – that draft players into their boys’ or girls’ teams for each tournament. Each tourney crowns its own boys’ and girls’ winners, while there is a larger Franchise of the Year award handed out at the end of the league.

This year, the league started at Hoërskool Nelspruit with the U17 tournament on November 29, followed by the U13s on November 30. The following weekend it moved to Penryn where the U15s played on December 6 and the seniors on December 7.

Kevin Botha of the Legogote Strikers. > Photos: Blake Linder

The Kruger Blitz franchise dominated this year and managed to win seven of the eight tournaments. It was only the senior women’s tourney they could not win, and the Blyde Heats won it on Saturday.

Kruger Blitz was also named the Eagles Franchise of the Year for 2024, crowning a top year for the teams in red.

The results from each of the finals are:
• U13 Boys: Kruger Blitz 2-1 Blyde Heats
• U13 Girls: Kruger Blitz 4-1 Legogote Strikers
• U15 Boys: Kruger Blitz 3-1 Panorama Swifts
• U15 Girls: Kruger Blitz 2-0 Blyde Heats
• U17 Boys: Kruger Blitz 2-0 Panorama Swifts
• U17 Girls: Kruger Blitz 5-0 Blyde Heats
• Senior Men: Kruger Blitz 4-2 Legogote Strikers
• Senior Ladies: Blyde Heats 2-2 Legogote Strikers (3-2 on eight second shoot-out).