Crystal Palace players representing GB at 20th Underwater Hockey World Championships

Six Crystal Palace underwater hockey players are representing Great Britain in the 20th Underwater Hockey World Championships.

The tournament takes place between July 19-28 in Quebec City, Canada.

Scott Allen is joining the GB Men’s Elite team, with assistant coach Steve Baldwin. Maddy Hollick is representing the GB Women’s Elite, and Karl Speed is captain of the GB Men’s Masters team, coached by Pete Hodge, with fellow player Jos Greenhalgh.

The underwater hockey world championships take place every two years – 42 teams from 18 countries are competing from around the world, including New Zealand, South Africa, France, Japan, the Netherlands and Argentina.

West Wickham Underwater Hockey Club chairman Paul Pizzey said: “We are extremely proud of the talent and experience in our club acknowledged by the selection of players for the Elite and Masters GB squads and two members in a pivotal role in the small but highly experienced coaching team”.

Underwater hockey is a fast-paced game, played on the bottom of a swimming pool. 

Players use short sticks to propel a metal puck through the water while wearing a mask, snorkel and fins, and score by getting the puck into the three-metre long goal. There are six players on each team, plus up to four subs.

West Wickham Underwater Hockey Club train at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Thursday evenings between 9-10pm.

The players pictured in the attached group photograph are (from left to right): Steve Baldwin, Scott Allen, Maddy Hollick, Jos Greenhalgh, Karl Speed, Pete Hodge.