All photos submitted by Yan Huckendubler
Born in India, Pereira’s journey to becoming one of Canada’s preeminent field hockey goal scorers in is a testament to his dedication, perseverance through injury and his on field skills and talent. Retiring in 2024, Pereira has 210 international caps for Canada and 42 goals to his name. He is in the books as a top 15 capped player for the men’s national team and renowned for his speed, skill and finish.
Pereira’s love of the sport began at the age of five, under the guidance of his father, who instilled in him a love for the game that would shape his playing career. In 1998, Pereira moved to Canada with his family, and transitioned into the Ontario field hockey scene.
His first international match against his birth-country, India, in Victoria, BC, remains in his memory as an emotional and exciting moment of nostalgia. Playing against the team he idolized as a child, Pereira remembers being fuelled by the significance of donning the Canadian jersey in that moment.
“I got my break early on when India came to Victoria for a test series. I was a UVIC student at that point, and I can remember vividly watching them practice that week before the series,” Pereira said. “I was like ‘holy crap, that’s the team have to play in two days.’ That’s the baby blue jersey I idolized when I was a little kid. It was definitely an emotional first cap and I just sort of had to dive right into my career.”
Throughout his early career, Pereira highlights the 2011 Pan American Games finals against Argentina as a pivotal moment. Despite the defeat, Pereira emerged from the tournament with renewed determination, channeling the experience to fuel his next steps.
Reflecting on his career, Pereira cherishes not only the top-tier events such as the World Cups and Olympics but also puts reverence on the qualification events, which he views as milestones in his journey. One he remembers was the 2015 World League, as he was recovering from his torn ACL, watching the team secure the Olympic bid. He also of course points to the 2019 Olympic qualifying series, when the team stormed back and won in a thrilling shootout on home soil in West Vancouver, to earn a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“That Ireland series in 2019 was some of the most fun field hockey games I played in my career. It was awesome to have it at home in front of everyone we knew and it was honestly incredible to pull out that win and qualify for Tokyo,” he said.
For Pereira, the day-to-day training was a necessary precursor to the thrill of competition. While he may not have been ‘in love’ with the daily grind, he acknowledged its role in fostering team camaraderie and preparedness for tournaments.
“I’ve never been one of those guys that loved every day of practice. It’s tough getting up at 6am in the Vancouver rain and going to training. With that said, that stuff makes you better, there’s no doubt. But for me, it’s always been the games and the chances to show what we can do, is what is really special for me.”
As Pereira says goodbye to the high-performance realm of the men’s national team, he reflects on the bonds he made with his teammates over the years. It’s the cherished camaraderie of his cohort, spanning from 2011 to the Tokyo Games, that he’ll miss the most—a testament to the friendships created in pursuit of a collective dream. Many of these people he said will be friends for life.
“The group that I played with, essentially from 2011 up until the Tokyo Olympics, featured 10-12 guys that remained constant. We did everything together. We trained together, and been through countless things off the field together,” he said. “Those experiences have bonded us for life.”
The decision to retire was a difficult one for Pereira, who recognizes the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye to a constant that has guided his life for 15 years. He acknowledges that the time is right for this new chapter in his life.
Pereira acknowledges the incredible support of his father and family, whose belief in his abilities pushed him forward every step of the way. From being a coach to his biggest supporter, Pereira’s father has been a pillar throughout his journey.
As Pereira embarks on the next phase of his life, he remains committed to giving back to the field hockey community. Whether through coaching or mentorship roles in the Greater Toronto Area, Pereira seeks to lead the next generation of Canadian talent.
Pereira said that retirement hasn’t fully hit him yet. But he believes he’s exiting at the right moment for him. He said the team has been nothing but supportive during this stretch. He added special thanks to mentors such as Ken Pereira, Wayne Fernandes, Robin D’Abreo, Rob Short, Ranjeev Deol, Paul Bundy and Paul Wettlaufer and adds a special thanks to Sean Campbell for keeping his body together over his 15-year national team career.
Team Canada qualifies for the 2020 Olympics by defeating Ireland in a two-game series in West Vancouver.