With the countdown to the Olympic Video games Los Angeles 2028 ticking steadily, the USA’s ladies’s and males’s nationwide hockey groups took essential strides earlier this 12 months on the FIH Hockey Nations Cup and FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, respectively — showcasing rising abilities, constructing depth, and sharpening their long-term ambitions.
On the FIH Hockey Ladies’s Nations Cup in Santiago, Chile, the USA ladies’s group, below the steerage of Head Coach David Passmore, gained invaluable expertise regardless of a difficult competitors the place they completed fourth general, narrowly lacking out on a medal following a 2-1 loss to the hosts within the bronze medal match in opposition to hosts Chile. For Passmore, nonetheless, the match was all the time about greater than instant outcomes.
“This was an ideal alternative to assume long run,” he stated throughout the occasion. “We’ve a robust mix — skilled Olympians and thrilling younger gamers — and it’s very important to see how they cope below stress. LA28 could be very a lot a spotlight already. For those who ignore it, it can come again to chunk you later.”
Passmore emphasised that with Paris 2024 expertise and proof of idea, the group might afford to broaden its horizons — managing veteran gamers rigorously whereas giving rising stars the chance to step up.
“That is about constructing the appropriate psychological and bodily readiness for the problem of internet hosting the Video games,” he added.
One of many younger gamers embracing that mission is Maddie Zimmer, who spoke in regards to the group’s pleasure and camaraderie throughout the Nations Cup marketing campaign.
“That is undoubtedly step one in an extended journey in direction of LA,” Zimmer stated. “It’s actually particular to know we’ll get to share the Olympics with the hockey world on residence soil. We’re all motivated, and occasions like this assist us construct connections on and off the sector.”
Zimmer mirrored a sentiment shared throughout the squad — that whereas the street to LA28 is lengthy, the muse is being laid now, by way of each match and each expertise.
In the meantime, on the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup 2 in Muscat, Oman, the USA males’s group, led by Head Coach Allan Legislation, additionally made essential strides, finally ending fourth after a robust marketing campaign that included a semi-final look, ending simply shy of a podium place, after a shootout loss within the bronze medal match.
“Our focus is on constructing our program, with LA as an actual marker,” Legislation stated after the match. “But it surely’s additionally about sustainability — ensuring the USA is constantly competing within the prime 15 globally, not simply peaking for one Olympics.”
Allan famous the resilience the group confirmed, even when dealing with defensive challenges from opponents like Egypt, Austria and eventual champions Scotland.
“These experiences are a part of the training course of. It’s about multiple match — it’s about getting ready ourselves for the pressures and alternatives of enjoying at an Olympics on residence floor.”
With clear ambitions, rising depth, and a united sense of goal, each the USA males’s and girls’s groups are steadily constructing towards what guarantees to be a historic second for American hockey at LA28.
Supply: FIH.hockey
