HONG KONG—The 8th annual Kerry Properties Ice Hockey 5’s tournament now running at the international sized rink at Mega Ice is the highlight of the Ice Hockey year in Hong Kong bringing together top ice hockey teams from the region for the biggest hockey tournament in Asia. This year is no exception with a total of 96 teams from 18countires and cities more taking part in this 12 day tournament running from April 27 to May 10, 2015.
Junior and youth teams competed during the first week (May 2 - 9) with teams split into age groups for U5 to U15. A total of 56 teams taking part: 12 Atom teams (U5), 12 Mini Squirts teams (U8), 12 Squirt teams (U10), 10 Pee Wee teams (U12) and 10 Bantam teams (U15). Teams came from Hong Kong, China, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan.
The top Cup finals in each division were all excellent well contested matches showing good skills and lots of determination. Victory Hope-A had a narrow 1-0 victory over Power Kids to take the Atom AA trophy but it was success for Hong Kong Selects in each of the other AA finals. HK Selects beat Victory Dragon 6-2 in the Mini Squirt AA final, HK Selects won 5-1 against Chinese Taipei to take the Squirt AA title, HK Selects beat Meco Phoenix 5-1 in the Pee Wee Final and HK Selects beat Shanghai Thunderbirds 4-1 to take the top Bantam AA title.
The Hong Kong Typhoons HK Selects teams are directed and managed by American brothers Craig (General Manager) and Kory (Director of Hockey) Falite who play in the Hong Kong CIHL in the regular season.
Craig Falite spoke with Epoch Times after the HK Selects success in the Pee Wee final.
“Some games were easy other scary, as at times they ‘fall asleep’ but all four teams continually played well, three wins and one to go”
HK Selects had a tough semi-final against Tianjin in the Bantam AA Semi-final, much tougher than the 7-0 score suggests.
“Yes, a physical game which is fine, the Tianjin team is a very good team but the score did not indicate how good they are. The Shanghai team is also pretty good but we hope to finish with a good one” explained Falite.
Finish well they did. It was a blisteringly fast, hotly contested and skillful final but HK Selects came away with a 4-1 win to take the top trophy and show the strength in depth of the HK Typhoons.
Week 2 – Adult 5’s
The ceremonial puck drop for the start of the adult competition took place on Tuesday May 5 with consular officials to Hong Kong from many countries in attendance, including Paul Tighe (Australia), J Ian Burchett (Canada), Hitoshi Noda (Japan), Christian L De Jesus (Philippines) and Howard Fu (Singapore) as well as Florence Hui (HK Home Affairs) and Mason Hung (HK Tourism Board). The ceremony was hosted by Director of Mega Box Czarina Man together with Michelle Lam (Kerry Properties).
A Lion Dance on ice was presented to set the tournament off in good spirit.
The adults 5’s with teams from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Australia and more is now in full swing with full schedules each day from 7:00 am until midnight. Round robin Pool matches continue today and tomorrow for all division: Asian A, B and C; International A and B and for the Women’s division. Key finals take place on Saturday afternoon and evening (May 9).
