Set for a Thunderous show

THE four Thunderbolts should again steal the thunder.

That’s the script for the men’s Junior Hockey League which starts today with 14 teams in one division.

Tenaga Nasional, sponsor of the Thunderbolts, will again unleash double champions Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI), Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), Anderson and Pahang Hockey Academy.

And it looks like only Petaling Jaya City Council (PJCC) Tigers and Universiti Kuala LumpurDatuk Bentara Luar are capable of stopping a Thunderbolts domination.

Last season, SSTMI, Anderson and Pahang finished in the top three respectively in the league while UniKL were fourth.

“We aim to maintain our domination this season as well, and again, I expect the challenge to come from UniKL and PJCC,” said Thunderbolts head coach and triple-Olympian Nor Saiful Zaini.

Last season, there were two divisions in the men’s tournament. Division One had 10 teams and Division Two, 20.

However, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation opted for quality this year and only 14 teams were registered. Nine were from last season’s Division One, while 10 teams were involved in a playoff for five slots.

The women’s JHL will begin on June 28 with nine teams in one division.

TODAY — Men: Perlis Young Lions v PJCC Tigers (Kangar, 4.45pm), KL Wipers v MSSP-PSHA (KLHA, 4.45pm), Sabah jnrs v SSMS Resilient (National Stadium II, 3pm), BJSS Thunderbolts v SSTMI Thunderbolts (National Stadium II, 5pm), BJSS Juniors v SSTMI Juniors (Ministry of Education, 4.45pm), Pahang Thunderbolts v UniKL-Datuk Bentara (Kuantan, 4.45pm), Anderson Thunderbolts v Terengganu HT (Azlan Shah, 4.45pm).