After we’ve had a day or so to absorb the news on the roster auction for the four teams in the women’s Hockey India League, we, of course, have to do our own “way too early” analysis on which team or teams are going to be the favorite to lift the trophy at the end of the proceedings.
At first blush, I like the chances of the Soorma Hockey Club. They will have two German stars in forward Charlotte Stapenhorst and midfielder Nike Lorenz. But if there is a reason why I think Soorma can win it is all, it is the backline. Goalkeeper Savita Punia, who willed India into the Final Four at the 2020 Olympics, is in the side. She can flip a game on its head by herself, and she’s one to watch for MVP honors.
My second-favorite are the Shrachi Rahr Bengal Tigers. They’ll have an interesting situation at goal, with Grace O’Hanlon of New Zealand and Jenny Rizzo of the United States looking to be the starter. Roisin Upton, late of the University of Connecticut, will join her Ireland teammates Elena Neill, Sarah Hawkshaw, and Kathryn Mullan. I think the star of the team, however, will be three-time Olympic gold medalist Eva de Goede, who will be joining the league from her club side HGC Wassenaar.
Mind you, if it’s a Dutch style you want, go no further than the Odisha Warriors. Yibbi Jansen, Michelle Fillet, and Freeke Moes, the latter of whom is a crafty finisher. The midfield of the Warriors is strong, with Jansen, the Hockeyroos’ Kaitlin Nobbs, India’s Baljeet Kaur, and Argentina’s Victoria Sauze.
The fourth team in the league are the Delhi SG Pipers. They will be led by Charlotte Watson, Giselle Ansley, and Elizabeth Ann Neal of Team GB. In addition, they will have the experienced backs Stephanie de Groof (Belgium) and Miri Maroney (Australia). The wild cards for this team are the forwards. Aside from Preeti Dubey (who we talked about yesterday), the team also has Indian forwards Navneet Kaur, Deepika, and Sangita Kumari, all of whom are very experienced.
Now, I don’t know whether these four teams will carry every one of these players when the league has its opening hit the last week of this year.