Laferla Insurance White Hart recently held its annual dinner event at the Kordin national hockey complex.
The evening started off with a friendly hockey match that included junior, senior and retired players. The two teams were captained by Robert Vassallo Agius (Club president and current no.1 goalkeeper) and Andrew Galea (retired goalkeeper), with the latter coming out victorious.
This was also a nice send-off to the retiring Simon Agius, an ever-present player for White Hart who also contributed immensely to the coaching of the junior squads for many years.
The friendly was followed by a sit down BBQ dinner after which various presentations were held.
The Club president off proceedings by thanking everyone who attended the event for their support, especially the guests of honour, namely Tony Tabone, Chris Busuttil Leaver and Mark Laferla, now all current Life members of WHHC.
This was followed by the presentation of awards. Alain Vella and Daniel Seifert won the 2011/2012 Senior Best Player and Most Promising Player awards, respectively, while Tristan Seifert won Under 17 Best Player and Jamie Brincat Brockdorff the U-17 Most Promising Player awards.
In addition to these awards, appreciation awards were also handed out to Simon Agius, David Tortell (ex-player and coach) and Andrew Galea for their years of dedication to White Hart.
Another appreciation award was given to Alan Curry, who over the past year or so has been a key figure in the squads’ fitness training and development. Finally a special award was given to Mark Laferla, Managing Director of Laferla Insurance Agency Ltd., welcoming him as a Life Member of White Hart in appreciation for his continued support and sponsorship of the team.
Laferla followed this up by declaring that Laferla Insurance Agency Ltd will once again be sponsoring White Hart Hockey Club this season. He stated that last season’s positive results in the second and third round of the national league were key reasons behind this decision and he expressed his best wishes for White Hart to keep building on these results and bring more trophies to the White Hart family.
Newly appointed Coach Tony Azzopardi then announced that he will take over as senior coach from the outgoing David Tortell and that Mark Zahra will replace Keith Laferla as Under 17 coach.
He also thanked Mark Laferla and all those present for their continuous support, as well as Qormi Hockey Club who last season loaned four players to White Hart and will do the same for the upcoming 2012/2013 season.