Another American team have been in Bermuda taking advantage of the weather and facilities for winter training.

Swimmers from Indiana University and Germantown Academy were training at the National Sports Centre last week but at the same time, the Alvernia University women’s hockey team were also on the island, bringing 21 people, using the National Sports Centre’s pitch.

This week the Fairleigh Dickinson University Men’s Lacrosse team from New Jersey have also been using the NSC for their preseason training.

Pennsylvania-based Alvernia played two games during their stay, beating a team made up of expatriates and national players 2-1 before drawing against the women’s national side 1-1.

Laura Gingrich, the Alvernia head coach, said: “Bermuda is a beautiful place to visit, reasonably priced, with friendly people, a terrific hotel, the playing venue is gorgeous, and the weather is much better than in Pennsylvania, in January.

“The trip is held after our regular season, and prior to our short spring season, so it’s more of a team bonding, and educational tour for the team.

“We schedule it during our winter break, so the students do not miss classes, and it gets us out of the cold temperatures.”

Gingrich, who stayed with the team at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort, added: “I would definitely recommend Bermuda to other coaches to bring their teams, it is a short flight and the facilities and game venue are awesome.”

For the past seven years ZAG Sports USA, based in Princeton, New Jersey, with assistance from with Grainne Richmond, who lives in Bermuda, has brought American college and high school teams to Bermuda for preseason training.

Richmond said that on average ZAG had brought four teams every year — predominately in January and then in August. The teams play Bermuda Federation Squads and Bermuda national squads.

Richmond added that it was imperative that the NSC stayed ahead of its Caribbean competitors by continuing to upgrade its facilities.