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March 10th, 2008

TURKEY - HOCKEY ON THE RISE

Kockelscheuer, Monday, March 31 Luxembourg – Turkey Opening and immediately deciding game.

By Michal Travnicek
The team from Dardanels and Bosporus will very probably be the main opponent for Luxembourg in battle for promotion to Division Two of World Championship.
Turkish hockey made its first steps on the international level in May 1990. Istanbul Paten Kulübü (Istanbul Skating Club) played three games against the U18 juniors of Den Haag, The Netherlands, and suffered defeat with a wide margin in all games. The Turkish National Senior team took part in World Championship Pool C in South Africa two years later. Presenting themselves for first time at the international level. The first game between Luxembourg and Turkey was played in Johannesburg with result 10:5; Gilbert Schuller and Tom Jungblut both scored a hattrick for Luxembourg.

Since the 1992-1993 a regular Turkish national league is staged. In the first ever edition six teams competed and Ankara Büyüksehir Belediyesi crowned themselves the champion, by winning all five games. This team earned most titles – seven in all. They battled out their last ckampionship in the 2002-03 season. Ankara Polis Akademisi (Police Academy) won four championships and is the most succesful team in recent years. Kocaeli Büyüksehir Belediyesi from Izmit was stopped last season after reigning from 2004 (three titles in row).
The League again consist of eight teams this season. Still unbeaten Kocaeli BB leads the table after six rounds. The defending champion defeated its main opponent Polis Akademisi 8:3 in the opening round. The level of Turkish league (named Superleague) is raising. This is due to foreigners who played and still play in many teams. Oleg Vasiliev or Tony Batchvarov are living legends of Turkish league. Oleg Vasiliev is playing this season for TED Kolejliler Ankara together wit Craig Vieth. Also establshing themselves in the Turkish League are Tommie Eriksson (Sweden – Kagit Spor) and Slovaks Jan Cuch (Kagit Spor), Michal Tomasik, Pavol Frano (both Polis Akademisi) and Tomas Kukucka (Anka Spor). Local players can learn all finesses which hockey requires, thanks to them.

CENGIZ CIPLAK

Cengiz Ciplak is, without doubt, the best Turkish player ever. He was awarded the MVP crown as best forward in last World Championship Division 2 although skating for the team that relegated. He received the same trophy at World Championship 2004. At the World Championship Division 3 in Iceland he was the torunaments topscorer. Ciplak (25) learned his hockey in Edmonton and played in lower North American leagues, for example in the QMJHL as junior. He scored five goals in last game between Luxembourg and Turkey (2:8). Sedat Bayramoglu and Bugra Tugrul have experiences from North America too.
Turkish national team relegated one year ago from Division Two. Turkey was defeated by Bulgaria 5:7 in the deciding game. It is absolutely clear, that Turks wants to come back again in shortest of time.