Men’s National Program names 2015 Junior Development Squad

Vancouver, BC – Field Hockey Canada’s Men’s National Program has named 46 athletes to its 2015 Junior Develop Squad.

The roster was chosen after an extensive process of identifying athletes through regional and national camps, National Championships and select international competitions.

“We spent the first year really identifying and educating our athletes,” says Paul Bundy, assistant coach of the Men’s National Program. “These are the 46 we think we can affect and assess correctly.”

The squad will continue to train with the National Program year round through various camps and supplemental training in alignment with the respective provinces.

“We’ve made the pool a little smaller and now we’re really looking to affect them with two national tours this coming year and we’re looking to have our national camp in alignment with the Pan American Games (in Toronto next summer) so the boys get to see a senior international tournament at home,” Bundy adds.

The Junior Development Squad not only serves as a way to prepare athletes for junior international competition such as the recently completed Youth Olympic Games where Canada’s Under-18 men won silver, and potential competition in upcoming competitions such as the 2016 Junior World Cup, but it also identifies potential future senior athletes who will serve to sustain the Men’s National Program long-term.

“The Junior Development Squad exists to prepare athletes for the next step in international hockey, which is the senior team,” says Men’s National Program Director and Senior National Team head coach Anthony Farry.

“Under the guidance of our high performance team, this squad is designed to develop the depth of hockey in Canada and find the next elite players to represent our senior team in international competition,” adds Farry.

2015 Canadian Men’s Junior Development Squad