Field Hockey Club Swings Many Ways

Few people are aware of the fact that late last Saturday afternoon, while all eyes were fixed on the Brown game, the New York Islanders came to Harvard, and that Harvard took them to an 0-0 tie.

The Islanders play a mean brand of hockey, no question about it, but they couldn't do much against the Crimson stickmen--field hockey stick men, that is. The Harvard men's field hockey club has been doing well without skates--or even kilts--quietly and unobtrusively for the past four years, and this weekend they proved just how well they do by tying a visiting all-Caribbean team from New York, the "Islanders," that boasts three Olympic team players.

For Once

Even fewer people are aware of the fact that field hockey ranks as the third most popular sport in the world, right behind soccer and basketball. And not just for vigorous, pony-tailed, prep school girls.

Harvard's men's field hockey club, founded by a Dutch student named Felix Twaalhnback in 1976, represents one the University's genuine instances of diversity.

Players come from all corners of the University, from the Med School, the B-School, the Law School, the Dental School, and from all corners of the earth: Malaysai, Holland, England, U.S.A., West Germany, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, and Ghana. How many of you ever had an expos class with a quorum like that? (This is what it's all about, mom and dad).

Team captain Ying Dat Ho, a Malaysian native who has played field hockey for as long as he can remember, admits that such diversity also has a few drawbacks, for the club has to encorporate a melting pot of styles.

"We have the Asians playing an Asian brand of hockey, which is different from the Western European brand played by the English, Dutch, and West Germans. It's amazing that we can put together such a unified team."

The club is self-supported and self-coached. Ho does not forsee them achieving varsity status in the near future, at least not until they can" get some good competition in the Boston area and the East."

The club occassionally scrimmages against the women's varsity, and holds twice-weekly practices fall, winter (in-doors) and spring. The more experienced players coach less experienced ones, and as Ho explains, "We just try to get everyone in there and to have a good time. If we win, that's a bonus."

Turn on the Radio

Earlier this year the stalwart band of stick-wielders travelled to the District of Columbia for a five-match field hockey marathon session, playing two Washington-based clubs, the Freeport, Bahamas club, the Trinidad Tobago Police team, and a Dutch squad, all within two days. The Crimson lost some very close games, but Ho recalls several World Cup players on the opposition who complimented his players on their skill. The American Field Hockey Asoc. was apparently impressed as well, and are keeping an eye on Harvard for potential Olympic players.

Players come from all corners of the University, from the Med School, the B-School, the Law School, the Dental School, and from all corners of the earth: Malaysai, Holland, England, U.S.A., West Germany, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, and Ghana. How many of you ever had an expos class with a quorum like that? (This is what it's all about, mom and dad).

Team captain Ying Dat Ho, a Malaysian native who has played field hockey for as long as he can remember, admits that such diversity also has a few drawbacks, for the club has to encorporate a melting pot of styles.

"We have the Asians playing an Asian brand of hockey, which is different from the Western European brand played by the English, Dutch, and West Germans. It's amazing that we can put together such a unified team."

The club is self-supported and self-coached. Ho does not forsee them achieving varsity status in the near future, at least not until they can" get some good competition in the Boston area and the East."

The club occassionally scrimmages against the women's varsity, and holds twice-weekly practices fall, winter (in-doors) and spring. The more experienced players coach less experienced ones, and as Ho explains, "We just try to get everyone in there and to have a good time. If we win, that's a bonus."

Turn on the Radio

Earlier this year the stalwart band of stick-wielders travelled to the District of Columbia for a five-match field hockey marathon session, playing two Washington-based clubs, the Freeport, Bahamas club, the Trinidad Tobago Police team, and a Dutch squad, all within two days. The Crimson lost some very close games, but Ho recalls several World Cup players on the opposition who complimented his players on their skill. The American Field Hockey Asoc. was apparently impressed as well, and are keeping an eye on Harvard for potential Olympic players.