Gold Coast Commonwealth Games fixtures announced

Scotland’s men’s and women’s hockey teams will play some of the top teams in hockey at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Hockey competition. Team Scotland officially confirmed participation in both the women’s and men’s competitions and the schedule for the preliminary rounds of GC2018 was announced following the unveiling of the competition pools at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

Scotland women have been drawn in Pool B against Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ghana. Women’s Pool A has England, India, South Africa, Malaysia, and Wales drawn together.

Scotland men have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. Men’s Pool B has India, England, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Wales drawn together.

The men and the women will each get their campaigns underway on the first day of the games (5th April), and the competition will be fierce from the outset as the women take on New Zealand and the men face South Africa.

Scotland will compete at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia
EuroHockey Championship II 2017 Men – Scotland v Ukraine – photo by Duncan Gray

Amazing games

Scotland women’s Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said the draw was an amazing group of games and a massive challenge, while Scotland men’s Head Coach Derek Forsyth said it is an exciting pool for the team and one that the players can really compete in if they play to their potential.

The Scotland women’s squad clocked up a victory against Gold Coast opponents Ghana back in February in World League 2 in Valencia. The Scots are now set for a warm weather camp in Gran Canaria as they prepare for the Gold Coast.

The Scotland men’s squad have had a sensational year where they won Men’s EuroHockey Championship II, competed in the World League Semi-Finals, and were nominated for Team of the Year in next week’s Sunday Mail sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards.

Both teams will fly the flag for Scotland with pride in the Gold Coast for what will be a sensational showcase of hockey at the Commonwealth Games.

Scotland women’s Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “What an amazing group of games and what a massive challenge – I don’t think it could have been a harder draw. New Zealand are in great form at present after finishing second in the World League Finals. Playing Australia in Australia will have a great atmosphere and they are a top team. Canada are always a difficult side to play and Ghana are ever improving.

“We are all looking forward to the Commonwealth Games and all the matches. It’s this sort of experience that the players and staff work so hard for.”

Also excited for competing in the Gold Coast, Scotland men’s Head Coach Derek Forsyth said, “This is an exciting pool for the team and one that the players can really compete in if they play to their potential. These matches are tremendous for the squad and will be fantastic to be part of. It’s a great challenge and one we’re looking forward to.”

Scotland will compete at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia
Photo by Duncan Gray

Scotland’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games fixtures

Sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) the announcement saw the ten competing nations for both men’s and women’s Hockey competitions divided into two pools of five based on their FIH World Rankings.

Teams have been divided into pools in a snaking pattern, from the top-seeded nation down to the 10th seeded nation, in order to evenly spread competing nations across both pools.

Each team will play every other team within their pool during the preliminary round matches from April 5-11 before the top two teams in each pool advance to the semi-final and medal matches from April 12-14.

 

Scotland women’s fixtures (Australian Eastern Daylight Time UTC/GMT +11 hours)

Thursday 5 April – 11:30 – Scotland v New Zealand

Friday 6 April – 21:30 – Canada v Scotland

Monday 9 April – 16:30 – Scotland v Ghana

Tuesday 10 April – 21:30 – Australia v Scotland

Scotland will compete at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia
Photo by Duncan Gray

Scotland men’s fixtures (Australian Eastern Daylight Time UTC/GMT +11 hours)

Thursday 5 April – 21:30 – South Africa v Scotland

Saturday 7 April – 11:30 – Canada v Scotland

Sunday 8 April – 21:30 – Australia v Scotland

Tuesday 10 April – 11:30 – New Zealand v Scotland

Scotland will compete at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia
Photo by Duncan Gray

Classification rounds and semi-finals

Thursday 12 April & Friday 13 April

Medal matches

Saturday 14 April

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