New hockey club on North Coast

You only live once but if you play hockey, especially for the new Umhlali Impis Hockey Club, once is enough.

Greg White, Pro Series Indoor hockey franchise co-owner, has been enthusiastically, and with dogged determination, dribbling an exciting new hockey venture that is about to hit the back of the goal box and when it does, North Coast players from the ages of six to veterans will have the opportunity to access affordable coaching and play league.

The Umhlali Impis Hockey Club will swallow up the 100 strong school children at the North Coast Hockey Academy, and the Umhlali Hockey Club which has been going for more than 30 years.

“The development of hockey has created the necessity to train on Astro Turf, which has forced a change of venue. We would, however, like to take this opportunity to thank Umhlali School, our base for many years, for the unswerving support they have always given to the Umhlali Hockey Club,” said Rob Pissara, longstanding chairman of Umhlali Hockey and incoming Impis chariman.

He said the club will base themselves on Crawford’s new Astro Turf facility and the formation of the club was a huge step forward in providing top class coaching and playing structure on a world class Astro Turf surface.

Lauren Tweedie, co-founder of the North Coast Hockey Academy, said their goal has always been to develop a structure that provides top quality coaching and playing opportunities on Astro Turf for young local hockey players.

“The formation of the club is hugely exciting not only because it not only achieves this goal but also provides continuity for kids to grow and merge into the adult hockey frameworks within the club structure,” said Tweedie.

She said it also built on and retained the history of the Umhlali Hockey Club which has served the area for so many years.

The new club will cater for tots (U6), juniors (U7 to U12), youth (U13 to U14), seniors and masters sections for women and men.

Recruitment of additional club members starts immediately and all hockey players of all ages are welcome to contact impishockey@gmail.com for more information.

More information is also available on the club’s website www.nchacademy.wix.com/impis-hockey and Facebook page, Umhlali Impis Hockey Club.