Field Hockey Canada announced the team that will represent Canada at the 2013 Junior World Cup, scheduled to be played in New Delhi, India, from December 6 to December 15. The competition will be played in Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, a landmark location downtown Delhi which hosted many top level international competitions such as the 2010 World Cup, 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Qualifiers.
Canada qualified for this competition by reaching the Final of the 2011 Pan American Junior Championship in Guadalajara, Mexico. It is the first time that the Canadian Team qualifies for the marquis event of the junior calendar since 2001 in Hobart, Australia.
Team Canada will compete in Pool C, against The Netherlands, a powerhouse on the international hockey scene in all categories and finalist of the last Junior World Cup in Malaysia, against Korea, 7th of the last Junior World Cup, and against host India, always a force when playing at home.
Canada will open their competition on Friday December 6 at noon against Korea, then will play India on Sunday December 8 at 20h00 and will finish pool play against The Netherlands on Tuesday December 10 at 18h00.
After a rest day, cross-over and classification matches will be decided by the standings in the four pools. The competition will end on Sunday December 15.
Head-Coach Paul Bundy has assembled a strong team, with sixteen players from British Columbia and three from Ontario. The roster will be trimmed to eighteen players at a later date, with only two of the three selected goal-keepers making the trip.
“We have a good blend of youth and experience”, says Bundy. “Eight players participated in the junior continental qualification two years ago, and have already seen action with the senior National Team. At the other end of the age spectrum, some of the younger players will still be eligible for the next Junior World Cup in four year”. Taylor Curran is the most experienced player with 48 senior International Caps, including the 2010 World Cup, also in New Delhi.
“The group has trained hard since March”, continues Paul Bundy. “Many training sessions were common with the senior squad, and the athletes were regulars in the gym all summer. It is a very committed group, juggling training with studies, work and fundraising activities”.
|
Name |
Province |
Position |
|
Brandon Pereira |
BC |
Midfield |
|
Sukhi Panesar |
BC |
Midfield |
|
Taylor Curran |
BC |
Midfield |
|
Balraj Panesar |
BC |
Midfield |
|
Gurteg Gill |
BC |
Midfield |
|
Tristan Burgoyne |
BC |
GK |
|
Iqwinder Gill |
BC |
GK |
|
Kevin Pereira |
ONT |
GK |
|
Brenden Bissett |
BC |
Forward |
|
Gabriel Ho-Garcia |
BC |
Forward |
|
Gagandeep Thind |
ONT |
Forward |
|
Jannu [Har Simranjit] Mahal |
BC |
Forward |
|
Oliver Scholfield |
ONT |
Forward |
|
Spencer Curran |
BC |
Defence |
|
Gordon Johnston |
BC |
Defence |
|
Manvir Kingra |
BC |
Defence |
|
Justin Dhaliwal |
BC |
Defence |
|
Chris Roydhouse |
BC |
Defence |
|
Paul Wharton |
BC |
Defence |
Paul Bundy will be assisted by an experienced staff, with extensive involvement in international competitions at both junior and senior level:
|
Staff Role |
|
|
Paul Bundy |
Head Coach |
|
Aaron Guest |
Assistant Coach |
|
Inderpal Sehmbi |
Assistant Coach/ Videographer |
|
Alvin Bissett |
Team Manager |
|
Gavin Leung |
Athletic Therapist |
|
Anthony Farry |
Performance Analyst |
“We enter the competition ranked 14th”, says Coach Paul Bundy. “Our goal is to finish in the top twelve and be competitive in every game. I believe that we can surprise people. It will certainly be an experience for young players to play a World Cup in India, and we hope that the local fans appreciate our play!”.
More information on the competition will be available on the FHC web site @ https://www.fieldhockey.ca/.
