Bangkok Junior League 15.11.16 to 23.01.16

This as its name implies was a junior league much like a football league but for Ice Hockey for Bangkok teams. There are around 12 teams in Bangkok and top teams are Canstar and Bangkok Warriors. The first ever league was held in Bangkok in the previous year.

For this Helen Blackwell was playing as a guest player for Bangkok warriors in defense position. The main Bangkok rink at Rama 9 was used for most of matches which spread over nearly 3 months. Helen was playing in under 10 category and their were 3 other teams in her group. It meant having to fly down to Bangkok from her home city of Chiang Mai for each match. It was one of her first experiences playing in a national Ice Hockey event and she gained a lot of valuable experience.

As a defense player her primary objective was to block other sides forwards from getting close to goal and so making it difficult to them to score a goal. Of course if opportunity arose a defense player if they can get control of the pluck will try to take it and pass to one of teams forwards. During Helen’s visits she was able to make new friends along with ones she had already known from previous trips to Bangkok Ice Hockey scene. Her team were second favorites to win over what was considered at the time the best Bangkok Team Canstar.

However they won their matches and so reached final match fro gold cup. In final Helen Blackwell along with her co defense player succeeded in keeping Constar’s forwards away from her teams goal and her team went on to win the gold cup against the favorite and in many aspects stronger team. She was able to build on this experience to in a later tournament be awarded best defense player.