Three USA Technical Officials Headed to Auckland for WMH World Cup

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – In addition to two umpires, three technical officials will represent USA at the 2024 World Masters Hockey (WMH) World Cup Auckland.

Following the recently concluded WMH World Cup Cape Town, the action continues in Auckland, New Zealand from November 7 to 16 for the O-45 to O-60 men and O-45 to O-70 women. The three USA technical officials who will be making their mark in the City of Sails are Aaron Dudek, Renee Rutkowski and Regina Sands-Corl. The two umpires are Paula Childs and Chris Niblock.

Although he is no stranger to the world of competitive field hockey, this will be Dudek’s first time representing USA at a WMH event. Dudek has been a technical official on the international scene for more than ten years, most recently at the 2024 Junior Pan American Championships in Surrey, Canada this past summer and 2024 Indoor Pan American Cups (IPAC) this past March. He has represented USA at many events over the past decade as a technical official or judge, including the Pan American Cup, FIH Hockey Pro League and Indoor Pan American Cup.

“I am looking forward to being part of what first got me into field hockey; the teams, meeting new people, and the atmosphere with families,” said Dudek. “I missed out last time with indoor due to Covid and couldn’t pass up this chance for the experience.”

As an invested field hockey parent, Rutkowski began her career on the pitch in an unconventional fashion – on the recommendation of an umpire at a game she was attending. After taking an introductory umpiring course, she kicked off a successful career as an umpire, working at the middle school, high school, adult, and club level, with a special fondness for indoor field hockey. In 2014, she was invited to be a technical official for Junior Premiere Hockey (JPH). Through working with JPH, Rutkowski was encouraged by technical director Lurah Hess to apply for the WMH World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.

After a life-changing experience as a technical official in Cape Town, Rutkowski continued to serve as a technical official at the WMH European Championship in both Valencia, Spain and Nottingham, England, as well as the WMH Asian Championship in Hong Kong, China in 2023.

“That trip to South Africa changed my life, and I was able to see and experience bridges of friendship being built among people from all over the world,” commented Rutkowski. “Since then, I have served as a technical official for World Masters Hockey in Valencia, Spain, Nottingham, England, and Hong Kong. And on November 2, I am off on another hockey adventure – this time, to Auckland New Zealand. My bag is almost packed; I hope the Kiwis are ready for me.”

Sands-Corl umpired and played club field hockey for approximately 20 years before moving to the technical table. As a Level III umpire, she umpired at the high school, club, and NCAA level. In 2014, Sands-Corl began working as a technical official with JPH and has been working technical tables ever since. She attended her first WMH World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa in 2022 and also attended the WMH Pan American Continental Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2023. She is currently a technical delegate and technical official with JPH working indoor and outdoor events.

“I take great pleasure in watching the athletes I grew up playing and umpiring who are still competing at a high level in our sport,” said Sands-Corl. “And to be able to be a part of the game contributing to its success as a technical official, I very proud to represent the USA at this level.”