Vancouver, BC – Field Hockey Canada is sending its Senior Development Squad to Mexico for a test series versus Mexico and Cuba to be held in Mexico City from June 3 to June 8, 2014.
Sixteen athletes have been named to the touring roster, the majority of whom are part of the Field Hockey Canada Men’s Senior Development Squad (SDS) and Junior Developments Squad (JDS).
“These types of competitions are invaluable to the long term success of our program,” says Canadian Men’s National Program Head Coach Anthony Farry.
“We are getting more and more athletes international exposure. This is critical for not only the success of our senior group but also the underpinning programs as it shows the athletes coming through that there are opportunities and pathways to play international matches.”
With the majority of the Men’s National Team athletes currently training for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland this July, the Mexico three-nations series is an opportunity for the Development Squads to earn extremely valuable international experience.
“We are looking to expose some of our JDS athletes to senior level hockey while also continuing to give athletes in our Men’s National Team and SDS the chance to push for Commonwealth Games selection,” adds Farry. “With the mix of ages it will be a great test, especially playing a side like Cuba who will be very physically strong.”
The Canadian roster is led by twenty-two year-old Keegan Pereira (Ajax, Ont.), who has been capped internationally seventy-eight times. Vancouver’s John Smythe and James Kirkpatrick, who have appeared in ten international caps each, also add to the team’s experience.
Canada will open the series on June 3 versus Mexico A.
Tour Roster
|
Name |
|
Position |
Hometown |
|
Sunny |
Aujla |
Defender |
Surrey, BC |
|
Josh |
Brown |
Forward |
Victoria, BC |
|
Tristan |
Burgoyne |
Goalkeeper |
Vancouver, BC |
|
Arshjot |
Buttar |
Defender |
Victoria, BC |
|
Rohan |
Chopra |
Forward |
Ottawa, ONT |
|
Adrien |
D’andrade |
Defender |
Coquitlam, BC |
|
Oliver |
Ewasechko |
Mid/Fwd |
Calgary, ALB |
|
Manvir |
Kingra |
Defender |
Surrey, BC |
|
James |
Kirkpatrick |
Forward |
Victoria, BC |
|
Jannu |
Mahal |
Mid/Fwd |
Surrey, BC |
|
Balraj |
Panesar |
Mid/Def |
Surrey, BC |
|
Keegan |
Pereira |
Midfield |
Ajax, ON |
|
Matthew |
Sarmento |
Forward |
Vancouver, BC |
|
Arshjit (Amrit) |
Sidhu |
Mid/Fwd |
Abbotsford, BC |
|
John |
Smythe |
Mid/Def |
Vancouver, BC |
|
Harp |
Virdi |
Mid/Fwd |
Vancouver, BC |
Tour Staff
Head Coach – Geoff Matthews
Team Manager – Preet Sidhu
Jennifer Mark – Athletic Therapist
Videographer – Kim Ewasechko
Schedule
June 3 – vs Mexico A
June 4 – vs Cuba
June 5 – vs Mexico B
June 7 – Semi-Final
June 8 – Final
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About Field Hockey Canada
From grass roots to high performance, Field Hockey Canada is working to develop and strengthen field hockey across the country, and to position our National Teams for podium contention in 2016 and beyond.
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Field Hockey Canada Contact:
Shaheed Devji
Manager, Creative and Communications
Field Hockey Canada
778-847-7424
