The Canadian Men’s National Team is set to play the remaining two matches of its four-game test series versus the New Zealand Blacksticks.
The third match of the series, the first of two which will be played in Christchurch, will begin at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Friday. Live video streaming can be found at this link.
The Canadians dropped the first two matches of the series against the Kiwis in Nelson 2-1 and 4-0, in two starkly different ways.
In the first match, it was Canada who began the game on the offensive and their pressure paid off with a first quarter goal from Gabriel Ho-Garcia (Burnaby, B.C.).
“We continued to make some good developments in our game structure,” says Men’s National Team coach Anthony Farry. “We also managed to put them under some sustained pressure at times and created some really good scoring opportunities.”
That high pressure and solid defense didn’t last the entire game though, as the Blacksticks were able to claw their way back into the match on two penalty corner goals from Joe Bartholomew.
The Kiwis ended up winning the game 2-1.
Overall, the match was one the Canadians were proud of and were looking to build on heading into the second of two matches in Nelson.
But in game two the Kiwis were a different team.
This time, it was the home side that came out with all the pressure, with James Coughlan scoring the first goal of the game in the sixth minute. Ryan Archibald followed up three minutes later giving New Zeeland a quick 2-0 lead.
Canada had their work cut out for them.
Before half time, the Blacksticks added another and in the second half Bartholomew potted his third of the series on a penalty corner to make it 3-0.
“Full credit to New Zealand on the way the played today,” says Farry. “It was a pretty impressive performance.”
Despite starting the first game well and having had a chance to win, the Canadians’ focus now is on improvement in the back-half of the series.
The two teams are right back it on Friday (6pm PT/9pm ET) in the first of two matches in Christchurch.
“After playing well in our first test, we struggled a little bit in our build up play in game two,” says Canadian captain Scott Tupper. “New Zealand played at a higher level than game one and we will need control the tempo better in the final two games in order to come away with points.”
Approximately 1,600 fans were on hand to watch each of the first two matches at Saxton Field in Nelson. The atmosphere was energetic and one the Canadians appreciated.
“It was wonderful to see such a big crowd out to watch which shows the benefit of playing international matches in regions like this,” adds Farry. “On behalf of the Men’s National Team we would like to thank Nelson College and Hockey Nelson for showing us such great hospitality.”
