PH hockey team ‘getting hungrier’ with newfound support

The members of the Philippine men’s ice hockey team celebrate their gold-medal victory in the 29th Southeast Asian Games ice hockey tournament Thursday night at the Empire City Arena. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ SEA GAMES POOL

Ice hockey may not be a mainstream sport in tropical Philippines, but with the national team claiming golden glory in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games things may just turn around for the winter-based sport.

National team captain Steven Füglister said Thursday the group’s inner fire have grown exponentially since their Malaysian triumph and they’re more eager to carry the Philippine colors in future international tournaments.

READ: Philippines wins first ever SEA Games ice hockey gold 

“I think everyone is getting hungrier with all the support we’re having,” said Füglister during the team’s homecoming at SM Megamall’s skating rink on Thursday.

“People who weren’t interested in hockey before or didn’t know of the sport are now aware of it. We got flooded with messages of well-wishes.”

READ: Filipinos break ice with 12-0 thumping of Indonesia in ice hockey

The Philippines edged Thailand 5-4 in the gold medal game, making Füglister and his squad as the inaugural champions of the event in the regional games.

Füglister, who was based in Switzerland until 2014 before moving to the Philippines, was surprised with how the SEA Games is given such a high regard in the region.

READ: SEA Games: PH stays unscathed at 2-0 in ice hockey

“We went to the SEA Games and we were impressed by how important was the event in the region,” said Fuglister. “It was my first SEA Games and it was a big stage for us and we’re happy we succeeded.”

“A lot of these played hockey because of their love of the sport, they didn’t do it for media recognition, they did it for the love of the game and their love of their teammates.”

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