Sliema Hotsticks Hockey Club
Sliema Hotsticks Hockey Club is one of the oldest field hockey clubs in the island of Malta. It originates from the town of Sliema. Sliema Hotsticks are very strong in the youth sections and have produced top local hockey players who went to play for the Maltese national team. They currently play in the top tier of the Hockey Association Malta National League.
History
Hotsticks sparked off in December 1975 when Tony Caruana Smith, then teacher at Naxxar Boys Secondary School, gathered a group of 11-year-old schoolboys and started showing them the basic skills of hockey.
Only Juniors
In May 1977, Hotsticks Hockey Team took part in the first official HAM competition, entering two teams in an under-18 six-a-side full-pitch tournament. These Hotsticks teams were made up of under 16/14 players. Ten teams had participated in this tournament.
From then on Hotsticks competed regularly in all junior leagues and tournaments. In their first participation in junior leagues, in season 1977/78, Hotsticks won the under-14 league and were runners-up at under-16, losing only in the final to La Salle College. The competition included 8 teams while Hotsticks player David Xuereb won the HAM junior player of the year that season.
Senior National League
In season 1980/81, Hotsticks took part for the first time in the Senior National League. In the first two seasons the team placed last and penultimate, but enthusiasm was abounding.
In 1982/83, Hotsticks obtained 3rd place and took part in the Young Stars International tournament.
The following season, 1983/84, Hotsticks surprised all by winning the National Championship for the first time. All the players were under 20 years of age except for two.
After this glorious season, all ties with Young Stars Hockey Club were ended and Hotsticks established its own independent Club. Later the name Sliema was added to the club name to add more prestige and also because the founder and many of the original players hailed from Sliema and vicinities. There was also a significant period when the Club had its clubhouse at Tigne Sliema.
Indoor Champions
The club is the current Maltese reigning champions on the indoor pitch and have also competed in the EHF Indoor Championships in Gabrovo, Bulgaria which they lost.
9 a-side League
The club is also the current Maltese reigning champions of the 9 a-side league - a league exclusively created for reserve players.
Knock Out Trophy Winners
Sliema Hotsticks emerged as winners of the 2015 Knock Out Trophy after beating Qormi HC 3 - 2. The goals came all in the second half with Steve Portelli claiming his first hat-trick in a final. The two teams won their respective semi-finals against White Hart and Rabat respectively.
EuroHockey Cup Winners Challenge II
Sliema Hotsticks became the 2nd Maltese club to represent Malta in the European competitions organised by the European Hockey Federation. Sliema Hotsticks successfully organised the last ever EuroHockey Cup Winners Challenge II in Malta in 2007. The tournament was hailed as a big success and the Hotsticks team just failed to reach the semi-finals and finished in 5th place
2014/2015 Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable Past Players
David Xuereb
Keith Vella
Andre Imbroll
Official website
External links
- Field Hockey Forum
- The FIH - the game's international governing body
- European Hockey Federation