Junior men set to ramp up World Cup preparation; training squad named

With the excitement of qualifying for the 2016 Junior World Cup squarely behind them, and a short time training on their own having come to an end, Canada’s Under-21 men are now intently and intensely looking ahead to December’s competition.

But before they get to India for junior hockey’s big competition, Canada’s junior men have a lot of work to do.

The 18 players who helped Canada qualify for the World Cup by winning silver at the 2016 Junior Men’s Pan American Championship in Toronto in May have been joined by 30 more athletes to round out a squad of 48 athletes vying to be selected for Canada’s World Cup team.

And after the team had officially qualified in Toronto last May, Under-21 head coach Inderpal Sehmbi let them know that spots are up for grabs.

“I’m not married to any of the 18 guys that we took to the qualifier,” Sehmbi says. “And the guys in the room even said ‘We’re glad you aren’t because that makes people complacent.'”

With the door clearly wide open, the Junior men are ramping up towards selection.

The beginning of August saw physiological testing before the resumption of individual training sessions. And in September the entire squad reconvenes in Vancouver for two six weeks team and games training before the World Cup Team is named.

@FieldHockeyCan @FHC_MNT training doesn't stop for the next ones. pic.twitter.com/CLF9Sqmat6

— Inderpal Sehmbi (@isehmbi) August 11, 2016

The preparation process is highlighted by games against Canada’s Senior Development Camp during their Carding Camp at the end of September and through the first couple week of October.

The World Cup team will be named at the end of October, which will be following by the final stage of preparation in Vancouver until the end of November when the team leaves for India.

Canadian Under-21 Junior World Cup Training Squad