KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Hockey Confederation’s (MHC) partnership with Australia’s Territory Stingers is an excellent opportunity for national team players to enhance their gameplay, says national hockey head coach Sarjit Singh.
A three-year agreement between MHC and the Darwin-based club, which competes in the Australian Hockey League (AHL), will allow the latter to field both its men’s and women’s teams in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL), scheduled to run from January 4 to February 22, 2025.
The agreement will also give more than 50% of Malaysian hockey players the opportunity to play for Territory Stingers in the AHL over the next three years.
Sarjit said that he, his players and coaching team, must remain open to learning and adapting to modern aspects of the game.
“Having Territory Stingers on board is something really rare, and we need to take this opportunity seriously, using it to learn from them over the next three years.
“They will also be playing in the MHL, so our players must watch, learn, and see how they can improve their gameplay while playing alongside them,” said Sarjit during a press conference at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium earlier today.
“It’s not easy for our boys to get opportunities like this, especially with a chance to play in the AHL, which is one of the most prestigious leagues in the world. I want them to excel, and I would love to see at least 10 of them playing in the league soon. I would be even happier if more of my players made it.
“I’m also ready to learn, and I want my coaching team to do the same so we can evaluate ourselves and identify areas for improvement.”
It is understood that the Territory Stingers’ coaches and technical directors will collaborate with the National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP) to elevate its standards under the agreement.
In addition to Territory Stingers, China’s Liaoning – the women’s MHL champions this year – will also be sending both men’s and women’s teams to next year’s edition, bringing the total number of foreign teams to two.
The final number of participating teams in the MHL will be announced in the coming days after the league’s entry period closes on Friday. – November 25, 2024.