Canada improves to 11th in world field hockey rankings

May 22, 2009

The Canadian national men’s field hockey team have climbed two spots to reach 11th in the world according to the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) most recent world rankings released this past week.  The latest list comes after the conclusion of the Asia Cup which saw India and Japan drop in world-ranking points while Pakistan improved two-spots to sit in sixth place. 

It is the first time that the Canadian men have entered the top twelve since their top 10 ranking in 2000. 

“We are on the right track.  Some of the changes we’ve implemented over the past two years are paying off,” says national head coach Alan Brahmst.  “It’s an important milestone for Canada and demonstrates that we’re doing the right things.  Going forward, we feel confident that we’ve identified the appropriate strategic initiatives necessary to continue this upward momentum.”

A gold medal at last March’s Pan American Cup where they eliminated higher-ranked Argentina in the semi-finals no doubt contributed to the men’s recent climb.  The win also guaranteed Canada a berth in the 2010 World Cup.  The only other nations who have qualified thus far are Asian champion Korea and host India.

After their Pan Am Cup victory Field Hockey Canada initiated a four-phase ‘World Cup Preparation Program’ with specific competitive and physiological themes in each of the phases.  This preparation will take them to Argentina in December to compete in the FIH Champions Challenge I, an event featuring the top 8 nations in the world not competing in the premier-level Champions Trophy.

The last phase will begin in early 2010 and include final preparations for the World Cup.

 “Our World Cup program is well developed,” continues Brahmst.  “For us, the immediate priority is peak performance at the World Cup next March and our preparation will focus on this objective.  In the meantime, we are placing a distinct focus on our junior and development teams to sustain the rise in performance” 

Canada sat in 15th-place only eighteen months ago.  Their meteoric rise began with a strong showing at the Beijing Olympic Games where they earned a victory and draw against South Africa and Great Britain respectively.  It was the men’s first Olympics in eight years.

The latest world rankings for women released by the FIH last February has Canada sitting in 19th-place.

For the latest FIH World Rankings please visit www.fihockey.org