Before the Christchurch earthquake struck, Canterbury under-21 hockey hopefuls were focusing on sticks and speed and on trial matches at the end of February.
The contenders in the national under-21 tournament are starting to take shape as Northern men and Canterbury women sit comfortably on top of the points ladder.
It was nerve-jangling disappointment yesterday for Southern hockey supporters with both the men's and women's under-21 teams being bested in penalty shoot-outs at the national under-21 hockey tournament.
The Southern Under-21 men's hockey team made a great start in the national under-21 tournament, wining one game and taking two points from a penalty shootout win at the McMillan Centre in Dunedin over the weekend.
Albany A cemented its place at the top of the premier men's competition with a 9-0 victory over Kings United on Saturday.
Albany A continued its wining streak as it cruised to a 7-0 victory over Tuataras on Saturday, taking it to the top of the premier men's competition.