2024 Mega 3 City Hockey Cup Busan, Changwon South Korea

(November 28 – December 1, 2024)

The program saw all three age divisions demonstrate meaningful growth during their recent Asian tournaments. The U9 team shook off a slow start to show impressive development, dominating several games while gaining particular value from two tight contests that pushed players beyond their comfort zones. Coaches noted measurable individual improvements throughout the roster.

For the U11S, travel disruptions created immediate challenges, with cancelled flights and airport sleeping arrangements contributing to two opening losses. As fatigue subsided, the team found their rhythm with consecutive wins featuring excellent combination play. Though finishing struggles nearly cost them against weaker opponents, they battled through a shootout to secure third place. The squad’s ability to implement video-review corrections between games highlighted their coachability.

The U13s entered Korea with high expectations after previous international competitions. When group play failed to provide adequate challenge, coaches arranged an additional friendly against the tournament’s strongest team – a test they passed convincingly. Their perfect record was built through daily video sessions and gym work, with players showing advanced understanding of systems and noticeable physical development. Cultural excursions to Haeundae Beach and Skywalk strengthened team bonds beyond the rink.

Across all divisions, several common threads emerged. The program’s emphasis on video analysis proved particularly effective, with players at every level demonstrating quick implementation of coaching points. Each team faced unique circumstances – from the U9s’ technical development to the U11s’ travel adversity and the U13s’ search for worthy competition – yet all maintained focus on long-term growth over short-term results. The tournaments provided valuable benchmarks for player development while reinforcing the organisation’s philosophy of using international competition as a teaching tool. Most importantly, athletes returned having expanded both their hockey capabilities and their understanding of high-performance habits, setting the stage for continued progress throughout the season.