The Marist Hockey Club (MHC) will host the Eastgate Memorial Hockey Open tournament next weekend, marking its return after a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and facility renovations. Now in its 27th year, the tournament honors the contributions of Reginald and Dorothy Eastgate.
MHC president Paul Fraser expressed excitement for the event’s revival, stating, “The long wait is over. We are set to return to host the most-awaited hockey tournament.” The tournament is scheduled to begin on the evening of Friday, September 27, and conclude on Sunday, September 29.
As a significant event on the Fiji Hockey Federation calendar, this tournament is the only club-hosted event in Suva and attracts talent from across the region. Fraser noted that 14 teams would participate from around the country, excluding Levuka, making it the largest tournament in recent history.
This year’s competition will include eight men’s teams and five women’s teams, featuring participants such as the Australian Wanderers. In the men’s division, local clubs like Suva’s Stingers and Ventures, alongside visiting Nadi Stingers, will vie for the top prize. The defending women’s champions, Marist, will face tough competition from Ventures, Mates, and the Australian Wanderers, raising the stakes for all teams.
The host men’s team aims to make a significant impact, comprising scholarship players and key members from the junior program. Fraser added, “It is exciting, and we look forward to a thrilling tournament next weekend.”