Field Hockey Canada Announces 25 player squads for Junior National Teams

25 junior men and 25 junior women make up the junior national squads for 2025

Field Hockey Canada is proud to announce the 25 selected athletes for both the Junior Women’s and Junior Men’s National Teams. U21 national teams represent the nation at the under-21 level, serving as a crucial bridge between youth and senior international hockey. These selections represent the next generation of field hockey talent in Canada and mark a significant step through the Canadian talent pathway.

These selections follow a series of spring training camps, where athletes showcased their skills, technical and tactical ability. Several returning players from last year’s Junior Pan American Championship in Surrey will bring leadership and experience to the groups, while new faces will inject fresh energy.

The selected athletes will centralize in Vancouver this July as they prepare for a busy and exciting international season. From this group of 25, final rosters will be named for upcoming tournaments, including the Junior Pan American Games and the Junior World Cup.

Many of the selected athletes have already gained valuable experience on international tours, while for others, this marks their first opportunity to represent Canada on the global stage. Both the Junior Women’s and Junior Men’s programs continue to build on a strong foundation, having each qualified for three consecutive Junior World Cups.

As Field Hockey Canada builds out the National Talent Development System, these events continue to focus on athlete development. All 25 athletes will gain invaluable experience this year, and it’s important to note that there’s more in pipeline as we build inclusive and expanded national talent system. Field Hockey Canada’s talent system lead, Andrea Gibson outlines Field Hockey Canada’s Key Objectives of the Junior National Teams:

• Player Development: The primary goal is to nurture talent, providing athletes with opportunities to gain experience and improve their skills in a competitive environment.
• International Exposure: Participating in international matches allows players to adapt to different playing styles and tactical approaches, enhancing their overall development.
• Progression to Senior Team: The U21 team serves as a pathway for players to transition into the senior national teams, ensuring a steady flow of talent for the future.
• Competitive Success: While continued athlete development is the primary goal, the team also aims to achieve competitive success in qualifying campaigns and tournaments. Field Hockey Canada is incredibly proud of this fact that the past three cycles of the Junior National Teams have seen unprecedented success by qualifying for three consecutive Junior World Cup’s in both divisions which builds important international experience as we continue to build a stronger competitive depth for Canada’s future.

The Junior Women’s Team will be led by Kyle Marks, who makes his head coaching debut at the junior national level. On the men’s side, Geoff Matthews returns as head coach, continuing his leadership into a third consecutive cycle. Both coaches bring a wealth of experience and a commitment to athlete development. Matthews talks about the continuity of this group, moving out of the last two years into this year’s competitions.

“When I took over as head coach, we wanted to try to get more international caps for our group. The core of this group went to [last] Junior World Cup in India, so for them it’ll be the second Junior World Cup, and they have two Pan Ams as well,” Matthews said.

Marks is seeing this season as a complete process from camp through Junior Pan American Games to the World Cup. He said there are athletes from many different environments and with differing experience levels. Managing that and building a team identity will be key to reaching success, this season and moving forward.

“Some of these athletes are just starting their journey at this level, and some are returning U21 players who bring experience from previous Pan Am events. This balance gives us a valuable opportunity to build not just for this competition, but for the future of the U21 program and beyond. The younger athletes will gain exposure to what it takes to compete internationally, while the returning players will play an important leadership role in showing what’s required day-to-day,” Marks said. “The Junior Pan Am Games is an opportunity to expose young athletes to the international stage in a meaningful and inspiring way. Competing in a multi-sport environment adds another layer of motivation—it’s a special experience that can light a fire in young athletes.”

A Look Ahead: Upcoming Competitions

It’s an action-packed summer and fall for Canada’s junior national teams. For the first time, both teams will compete in the Junior Pan American Games, set to take place in Paraguay. This marks the second edition of the Games and the first time field hockey has been included in the event.

Following the Junior Pan Am Games, the teams will regroup in November to centralize and prepare for the Junior World Cups. The Junior Men’s World Cup will be hosted in India, while the Junior Women’s tournament will take place in Chile.

Field Hockey Canada congratulates all 50 athletes on their selection and looks forward to supporting them as they represent the maple leaf on the international stage.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S 25-PLAYER SQUAD

JUNIOR MEN’S 25-PLAYER SQUAD