Canada Shows Resilience and Growth in Santiago
The 2025 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup wrapped up in Santiago, Chile, after nearly two weeks of competition featuring 24 nations in an expanded format.
Canada entered the event in Pool E alongside Australia, Spain, and Scotland, aiming to build on its three consecutive World Cup qualifications. The squad featured 18 athletes from British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, representing 13 different clubs and universities. With several returning players from 2022 plus a core group fresh off the Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay, the team arrived ready and excited for the challenge.
Tournament Highlights
While the results didn’t always go Canada’s way, the team delivered several standout performances and showcased the depth of talent in the junior program:
- First International Caps: Zoe Furber, Mary Yang, Pascale Pottier, and Megan Shienbein earned their first junior international appearances, marking an exciting milestone in their careers.
- Veteran Leadership: Katie Gibb, Kenzie Girgis, and Nicole Poulakis, each with senior team experience, were instrumental throughout the tournament. Poulakis and Girgis led the attack with two goals apiece and consistently looked dangerous in the opposition’s half all tournament.
- Exciting young goalkeepers: Debutant keepers Mary Yang and Pascale Pottier impressed all week. Their combined efforts were crucial in Canada’s 1-1 draw against Scotland and the thrilling shootout win over Malaysia, where Yang made a clutch save, helping secure the win. The duo also stood tall in the placement match against New Zealand, keeping Canada competitive until the final whistle.
The shootout victory over Malaysia was a highlight, demonstrating Canada’s composure under pressure and ability to execute in critical moments.
Looking Ahead
Consistently qualifying for the Junior World Cup and providing international opportunities remains a cornerstone of Field Hockey Canada’s development strategy. These experiences are invaluable as athletes transition to senior hockey, bringing with them the speed, skill, and confidence gained on the world stage. With a strong pipeline of talent and a commitment to international exposure, the future of Canadian women’s hockey is bright and exciting.
