Do you know about hockey in Malta? Introducing the Sliema Hotsticks HC!

March 20, 2015April 3, 2015

The Sliema Hotsticks is a club from Malta and it was founded in December 1975 when Mr. Tony Caruana Smith, then teacher at Naxxar Boys Secondary School, gathered a group of 11 year old schoolboys and started showing them the basic skills of hockey.

In May 1977, Hotsticks Hockey Team took part in the first official HAM competition, entering two teams in an under-18 six-a-side full-pitch tournament. These Hotsticks teams were made up of under 16 and under 14 players. Ray Bezzina was there! He was in the better team, of course! Other players took part and worth recalling are Ramon Caruana Smith, Franco Curmi, and David Xuereb. Ten teams had participated in this tournament.

From then on, Hotsticks competed regularly in all junior leagues and tournaments. In their first participation in junior leagues, in season 1977/78, Hotsticks won the under-14 league and were runners-up at under-16, losing only in the final to La Salle College which included players like David and Brian Tortell, Chris Tabone and no less than Henry Cachia! The competition included 8 teams. Hotsticks player David Xuereb won the HAM junior player of the year that season. In season 1980/81, Hotsticks took part for the first time in the Senior National League. In the first two seasons the team placed last and penultimate but enthusiasm was abounding.In 1982/83, Hotsticks obtained 3rd place and took part in the Young Stars International Tournament.

The season, 1983/84, Hotsticks surprised all by winning the National Championship for the first time. All the players were under 20 years of age except for two. This was indeed a remarkable feat!

After this glorious season, all ties with Young Stars ended and Hotsticks established its own independent club. Later the name Sliema was added to the club name to add more prestige and also because the founder and many original players hailed from Sliema and the vicinities. There was also a significant period when the club had its clubhouse at Tigne Sliema.