Pune Strykers

Pune Strykers (abbreviated as PS) is an Indian professional hockey team based in Pune, Maharashtra that plays in the World Series Hockey. Currently, Canadian Ken Pereira is the captain of the team and is coached by Gundeep Singh. The team is owned by Sai Grace Sports & Events Private Limited.[1] PCMC Hockey Stadium in Pune is the home ground of Pune Strykers.[2]

Pune Strykers
Full namePune Strykers
Nickname(s)Strikers
Masters of Comeback
Founded2011
Home groundPCMC Hockey Stadium, Pune
(Capacity 5,000)
OwnerSai Grace Sports & Events Pvt. Ltd.
Coach Gundeep Singh
WebsiteOfficial Website
Official Facebook Page
Home
Away

Pune Strykers ended up as the runner-up of the inaugural edition of World Series Hockey. They lost to Sher-e-Punjab by 5 goals to 2 in the final.[3] Team's penalty corner expert Gurpreet Singh is the top-scorer for the team with 12 goals.[4]

History

2012 season

Pune Strykers suffered a major set back when they lost their captain and ace drag-flicker Diwakar Ram to a wrist injury just before the commencement of the tournament.[5] Pune Strykers started their campaign with a victory over Mumbai Marines in a see-saw battle at Mahindra Hockey Stadium in Mumbai by 75.[6] They continued with a victory over Delhi Wizards but drew next three matches. Their undefeated run came to an end when they lost to Chandigarh Comets 31.[7] They only won two of their next six matches. With almost knocked out of the tournament they defeated table-toppers Sher-e-Punjab and Bhopal Badshahs in their final two matches. A defeat to Chennai Cheetahs by Mumbai Marines gave them their semi-final berth.

Finishing number fourth on the table, they faced the first positioned team in the league phase, Chandigarh Comets, in the second semi-final.[8] Down by 41, they struck thrice in the final 10 minutes to extend the match into the penalty shoot-out which they won by 32 and entered the final to face Sher-e-Punjab.[9] They were dominated in the final and suffered 52 defeat and hence ended up at number 2 position.[10]

Pune Strykers staged some of the brilliant comebacks in WSH 2012 due to the likes of Mario Almada and were often referred to as Masters of Comeback, the first of which came against Mumbai Marines in their opening match in which they won by 75 despite of trailing by 53. They managed to draw with Sher-e-Punjab (33) from 31. In a must win situation, they lagged behind Bhopal Badshahs by 4 goals to 1 but ended up winning by 54. But the greatest of all comebacks came in the semi-final against the Comets where Strykers trailed 4-1 for the majority of the regulation time and then 0-2 in the penalty-shootout but made a dramatic comeback, winning 32 in penalty shoot-outs after finishing 44 after the 70 minutes.[9]

Franchisee Details

Ownership

Sai Grace Sports and Events Private Limited (SGSEPL) is the owner of the Pune franchise. The director of SGSEPL, Manoj Choudhary is the promoter of Jewel Products, one of India’s leading corporate gifting and innovation companies.[11]

Team Anthem

Pune Strykers anthem is sung by Shankar Mahadevan. The lyrics are written by Mahesh Sutar and the music is composed by Nishadh Chandra. The Universal Music Group is the music partner of the team.

Sponsors and Partners

The team is partnered by Gold's Gym for fitness and Café Coffee Day for on-ground hospitality. Radio City is their official Radio partner.[12]

Administration

  • Owners - Manoj Choudhary (Sai Grace Sports & Events Pvt. Ltd.)
  • CEO - Jagdeep Nanjappa
  • Manager - Mervyn Fernandis
  • Trainer - Simon Pachal
  • Video Analyst - Major (rtd). K.R. Singh
  • Physio - Meetu Mangalvedkar
  • Coach - Gundeep Singh
  • Assistant Coach - Rahul Singh

[12]

Team Composition

The team is led by Canadian Ken Pereira and coached by Gundeep Singh.[13]

Player Nationality Matches Goals
Goal Keepers
Gurpreet Singh Guri  India 16 -
Sunny Samuel  India 11 -
Strikers
Alden D’Souza  India 7
Amol Baban Bhosale  India
Bikash Toppo  India 16 5
Birendra Lakra Sr.  India 16 1
Damandeep Singh  India 16 3
Gurvinder Singh Chandi  India
Kangujam Chinglensana Singh  India
Mario Almada  Argentina 16 6
Nikkin Thimmaiah C.A.  India 14 4
Poonacha M.G.  India
Roshan Minz  India 16 3
Mid Fielders
Alvin Alexander  India
Amardeep Ekka  India 3
Amit Gowda  India 16
Lungile Tsolekile  South Africa 16 1
Rajwinder Singh  India 7
Tyron Pereira  India 16 2
Varinderjit Singh  India 7
Vikas Pillay  India 12 2
Vikram Ramkaval Yadav  India 11 1
Defenders
Diwakar Ram  India
Gurpreet Singh  India 16 12
Ken Pereira (Captain)  Canada 16
Kuldip Singh  India 7
Simrandeep Singh Randhawa  India 15 7
Sunil Yadav  India 9
Vinod Gopi Nair  India 9

[14] [15]

Fixtures and Results

2012

Goals For 47 (2.94 per match)
Goals Against 51 (3.19 per match)
Most Goals Gurpreet Singh (12 goals)
Overall Position: 4th
No. Date Score Opponent Venue Report
11 March7 - 5Mumbai MarinesMumbai Match 3
23 March3 - 1Delhi WizardsDelhi Match 8
34 March3 - 3Sher-e-PunjabJalandhar Match 9
47 March1 - 1Bhopal BadshahsPune Match 16
59 March3 - 3Chennai CheetahsChennai Match 19
611 March1 - 3Chandigarh CometsPune Match 23
712 March3 - 2Karnataka LionsPune Match 25
815 March1 - 3Chennai CheetahsPune Match 29
919 March3 - 4Chandigarh CometsChandigarh Match 35
1021 March2 - 3Karnataka LionsBangalore Match 40
1123 March4 - 2Mumbai MarinesPune Match 41
1226 March2 - 6Delhi WizardsPune Match 48
1327 March3 - 2Sher-e-PunjabPune Match 49
1429 March5 - 4Bhopal BadshahsBhopal Match 54
151 April3 - 2 (PS)
4 - 4 (FT)
Chandigarh CometsMumbai Semi-final 2
162 April2 - 5Sher-e-PunjabMumbai Final
Position in League Phase: 4th
Runners-up

Statistics

Performance summary
Season Matches Won Drawn Lost Win%
2012 1673643.75%
Home 731342.86%
Away 942344.44%
Overall 1673643.75%
Performance Details
Goals For 47 (2.94 per match)
Goals Against 51 (3.19 per match)
Most Goals Gurpreet Singh (12 goals)
Current Position: 4th
Performance by Oppositions
Opposition Matches Won Drawn Lost For Against Win%
Bhopal Badshahs 21106550.00%
Chandigarh Comets 310281133.33%
Chennai Cheetahs 2011460.00%
Delhi Wizards 21015750.00%
Karnataka Lions 21015550.00%
Mumbai Marines 2200117100.00%
Sher-e-Punjab 311181033.33%

Hat-tricks

No. Player Opposition Result Season Venue Report
1 Gurpreet Singh4 Mumbai Marines 7 5 2012 MumbaiMahindra Hockey Stadium 1 March 2012
2 Simrandeep Singh Randhawa Bhopal Badshahs 5 4 2012 BhopalAishbagh Stadium 29 March 2012
4 Player scored 4 goals

References

  1. "WSH unveils Pune franchise, names it Pune Strykers". Indian Express. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  2. "Pune Strykers". The Fans of Hockey. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  3. "Sher-E-Punjab crowned WSH champions". ESPN. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  4. "Top Scorers". World Series Hockey. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  5. "Gupreet stars for Pune Strykers in a rousing start in Bridgestone WSH". The Times of India. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  6. "Gupreet stars for Pune Strykers in a rousing start in Bridgestone WSH". The Fans of Hockey. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  7. "Comets shine bright, eclipses Strykers 3-1". The Fans of Hockey. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  8. "Pune Strykers hope to shoot down Chandigarh Comets". The Times of India. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  9. "Masters of comebacks produce yet another miracle". The Fans of Hockey. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  10. "Sher-e-Punjab: The Champions of 1st Bridgestone World Series Hockey". The Fans of Hockey. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  11. "WSH unveils Pune franchise, names it Pune Strykers". The Times of India. 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  12. "Pune Strykers Profile". Pune Strykers. 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  13. "Pune Strykers". World Series Hockey. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  14. "Pune Strykers". World Series Hockey. 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  15. "PCMC Hockey Stadium". World Series Hockey. 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.

See also

World Series Hockey

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