Field Hockey Canada > Canadian keeper Premakanthan headed to his fourth Indoor World Cup

Shankar Premakanthan hasn’t always been Canada’s indoor goaltender, but it might seem like he has. And for good reason.

The 34 year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario is set to play in his fourth Indoor World Cup when Canada takes to the floor in Leipzig, Germany on February 4th.

Shank, as his teammates call him, will be one of only a handful of players who have participated in every edition of the tournament since it’s inception in 2003. And ever since he joined the indoor program, he’s been working towards making his career a long and successful one.

“What has kept me at this level and what has allowed me to play for so long is that I’m constantly learning from the game,” he says from Toronto, where the Men’s Indoor National Team makes its final preparations before heading to Germany. 

“I’m never at where I think I want to be. I’m constantly looking to get better and finding ways to improve my game.”

It’s a practical approach. Prepare better, play better, play longer. But it’s not the only thing that fuels him. 

Premakanthan, like many athletes who play at a high level, does it because of a sheer passion for the sport.

“I just love the game,” he says. “Every minute I’m out there, I love it and I love being competitive.”

That passion extends beyond the field of play. This past summer Premakanthan attended the outdoor World Cup of Hockey, as a spectator.

Watching other goalies is something he’s been doing ever since he took up the sport at the age of sixteen (he played ice hockey and soccer before he was introduced to field hockey by his father). 

“Probably one of the biggest learning experiences I’ve had in my hockey career was at the World Cup in 2003,” he says about his first indoor World Cup, which was also played in Leipzig. “I had seen what Hari Kant (retired Canadian goalkeeper) was doing internationally but I got to watch other goalies.”

“In every subsequent World Cup, I’ve actually taken elements of what other goalies were doing and incorporated it into my game.”

Since playing in his first World Cup, in which Canada finished sixth, Premakanthan has played in two more: 2007 in Austria (Canada finished seventh), and 2011 in Poland (Canada finished tenth). 

“Each World Cup has been special and different in its own right,” he says. But maybe none more so than the first one in Germany, arguably the mecca of indoor hockey, which is also the only other team (in addition to Canada) which is set to play in its fourth World Cup.

“The memory I’ll never forget is we played Germany in our last pool match, and it was jam packed and the crowd and the noise and the atmosphere was unbelievable,” he recalls.  

“I was really excited when I found out that this tournament was going to be in Leipzig again.”

Four World Cups later, the excitement remains like it’s the first. And based on the performance he put up when Canada won gold at the 2014 Pan American Cup in Uruguay, Canada might just want Shank to play forever. 

“I’m really trying not to think about it,” he says when asked about when he plans to retire. “I probably won’t make a decision until a couple of months after [this World Cup].”

Whenever the time comes to call it a career, he’ll be able to look back and know that his was unparalleled. 

Until then, here’s hoping for a fifth World Cup in 2019.

The Canadian Men’s Indoor National Team begins the 2015 Indoor World Cup on February 4th with two games. To view the complete schedule and results, click here. Also stay tuned to Field Hockey Canada’s website, Facebook and Twitter feeds for game recaps, photos, and more.