Competition began on Wednesday night among players who hope to secure a spot on a newly formed, elite hockey team which will represent Bermuda internationally.

The Bermuda Hockey Federation team is the brainchild of BHF president Justin Freisenbruch and Nigel Pitchery, who will coach the side, and is expected to draw in the best players the Island has to offer ? whether they are Bermudian or expatriates.

To date, Pichery said 27 players had expressed interest in joining the squad and the hope is that as the team matures over the next few years, high quality players will be developed through its demanding programme.

?The BHF have a number of male participants from all over the globe,? said Freisenbruch of the benefits of the new squad. ?The UK, South Africa, Australia and the Caribbean to name a few.

?(The team) gives these players the opportunity to represent their adopted Federation, to which they already give a great deal of assistance and time.

?More importantly the team enables our talented group of developing male Bermudians to play on the same team as these individuals who bring a wealth of international experience and differing playing styles which will enrich our local players? experience and ability.

?The Federation team will set the example for the dedication, discipline and approach that is needed at the top level which will act as an excellent example to ongoing youth programmes at the under-16 and younger levels.?

The team will greatly benefit from coach Pichery, Freisenbruch said, as he has played internationally for Trinidad and Tobago and ?is a very experienced and respected coach within the region?.

Pichery, however, will be demanding dedication and discipline from his players.

?When preparing a team for international duty I look for two major ingredients that should be inherent to each individual athlete,? he said.

?These are physical fitness (which is a requisite for all major sports) and mental toughness (I can, I am, I will, I must).

?I am looking for the players who are focused on a singular belief that we will achieve our ultimate goal no matter what the circumstances or hindrances. As I told them in our first meeting, all international teams are basically prepared the same.

?But what makes one team better than the other is the mental approach to the game. I am looking for lions.?

Those selected will face a challenging programme with thrice-weekly training sessions.

?Two would be dedicated to team tactics and strategies and one session for fitness leading up to our first overseas trip,? said Pichery.

The coach will be running trial games over the next three weeks to select his eventual touring squad of 18. The programme itself will be run with a roster of 26.

?Realistically, in this our fledgling year of the programme, I would think that we should try to attend two overseas tournaments that will provide a yardstick on what progress we have made in the programme?s initial stages and also provide some insight on areas we need to improve on,? said Pichery.

The team will be looking towards possible competition in New York and Montreal this year, but in the future could participate in as many as a dozen tournaments a year.

The Fed team will also face off against any visiting sides on the new astroturf surface at National Sports Centre.

Pichery said 21 players took part in the first trial game on Wednesday and he has been very happy with response to date.

Ideally in a few short years, Bermuda will have developed a truly competitive national team through this regimented process which draws on local talent that might have otherwise been overlooked, said Pichery.

?If I plant a seed (the Fed squad programme) for a fruit tree and it begins to grow I cannot expect to get the fruits right away.

?I have to take care of the tree, I have to ensure that the tree along with its branches and leaves (all Fed squad players) is strong and it can endure trials and tribulations.

?Once this has been achieved and the tree is mature, it will happily give its fruit (national squad players) when that time comes.?