Debuting Philippine ice hockey team eyes SEAG gold

MANILA, Philippines — The delegation of the Philippine ice hockey team hopes to secure a gold medal in the upcoming 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"We're not guaranteeing a gold but that's what we're aiming for," Francois Gautier, tournament director of the Philippine International Hockey Tournament, said in the weekly PSA Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel Tuesday.

Gautier cited Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia as the teams to beat in the SEA Games.

Ice hockey will make its debut in the SEA Games along with ice skating.

As part of its preparation, the team will join the Philippine Ice Hockey Tournament that will begin on Wednesday at SM Megamall in Ortigas.

Six teams are competing in the open division while four teams will be playing in the 35-above category.

“Hosting an event like this is our way of training our future athletes to compete in the next level. It’s a great training ground for our athletes,” said SM Lifestyle business development manager Stephanie Henares-Dela Pena. - Aaron Brennt B. Eusebio