Heat ready to trial

THE Cooloola Heat A Grade men's hockey team will have its first run of the season next Saturday when Brisbane A grade side University visits for a trial game.

Picture: Craig Warhurst

THE Cooloola Heat A Grade men's hockey team will have its first run of the season next Saturday when Brisbane A grade side University visits for a trial game.

Former Heat player Murray Wenzel plays for University in the strong Brisbane competition and he and father Ian Wenzel, Gympie Hockey president, organised the friendly match.

The match will be played over four quarters and is designed to be pre-season hit out for both teams.

Heat spokesperson Craig Warhurst said the players were looking forward to the match and were hoping for a huge crowd to cheer on the local team.

“It will be a tough game,” Warhurst said.

“They are probably the strongest team the Heat has ever played, but hopefully we will give them a good run for their money,” he said.

The Heat's preparation for the game has been disrupted with bad weather stopping all but one training session.

“We haven't got the whole team together yet as rain has stopped a lot of preparation,” Warhurst said.

“Hopefully, this Tuesday night we will get everyone at training and we will be able to get the team's makeup finalised.

Warhurst said the Heat were still without an official coach, but was hopeful to find a candidate before the start of the season.

“We have been running ourselves at training, but it isn't the best option,” he said. “We can make it work if we have to.”

Warhurst said the team had lost a couple of players from last year, but the strength in the junior ranks would ensure the side remained competitive, if not a final force.

“Seeing some of the young boys after the off season, it is amazing how much they have grown,” Warhurst said.

“Nathan Stephens, the Mount and Warhurst boys have all grown in strength,” he said.

In other hockey news, Warhurst was asking anyone interested in playing in the men's under 18 Gympie representative team to turn up to training on Tuesday nights.

“If we get enough players we can play the under 18's against the Heat,” he said.

Gympie Hockey is urging spectators to come along next Saturday afternoon to watch the game.

The bar will be open with live entertainment.

Originally published as Heat ready to trial