Challenging training blocks set up the summer competition period
The Men’s National Team last competed at the 2024 Nations Cup in Poland. They have since been grinding with each other in the daily training environment in Vancouver, BC in preparation for this summer’s competition elements.
Thomson Harris, from Vancouver, BC, said that the training blocks have been challenging, including heavy conditioning, team tactical work and replicating game-like scenarios. Head Coach Patrick Tshutshani said he’s seeing the team come together with a sense of ownership and identity in preparation for the summer. The team is currently on a two-week break before they enter their busiest stretch of the year.
Over the past several years, the team has almost completely changed, with the arrival of new fresh faces coming through the talent system ready to challenge and add value to the national roster. The more experienced athletes are excitedly leading this next generation of Red Caribou. Many of those younger players have been a part of the junior system for the last two years, including several from the junior men’s team that played at home in Surrey at last year’s Junior Pan American Championship. Harris said the injection of these young players has galvanized the group and he’s excited to see where it leads.
“It’s been really great to see the younger guys develop and become more integrated into the team,” Harris said. “There’s a lot of guys working really hard to get on the touring teams and it’s great to have new faces around the training environment. I’m excited for the summer competitions and to see where we’re at once we do start playing matches.”
The MNT trains at Rutledge field on a Sunny May morning. Photos/Blair Shier
The team will participate at the Sikh Games in Surrey at the end of June in preparation for the Pan American Cup in July. Tshutshani said that the team isn’t all the way there yet, but is excited to use the Sikh Games to help springboard the team to that next level before the international competition.
“For the Sikh Games, it’s about sharpening our identity — focusing on team chemistry, refining structures, giving players confidence and continuing to provide clarity in their roles,” Tshutshani said. “It’s also an opportunity to test combinations, build momentum, and create a winning mentality in a competitive but culturally significant environment.”
Following the Sikh Games, the team will then eye up the Pan American Cup. The tournament is taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay starting on July 25. The men’s team won the bronze medal at the last Pan American Cup (Santiago, Chile), but missed out on World Cup qualification. Harris said the team knows the stakes of the tournament could mean World Cup qualification, but will be aiming to take the matches one and time and work on the correct process.
“Obviously qualifying is the goal and we know the competition is going to be good,” Harris said. “So the focus is going to be game-by-game, improving on the process. As the process improves, the results will come with that.”
Harris added that although there is no way to directly replicate game-like environments at practice, the team has been working hard, preparing for the challenges of international hockey. They are intentionally tackling each session with that in mind.
“We’ve been doing a lot of small-sided drills and games, which has the advantage of being really intense for the time you are in it. Those short bursts, small-sided games, under pressure and under fatigue, which is what you might experience in an international match,” he said.
Tshutshani said that as they approach Pan American Cup, they’ll emphasize execution of their game plans and being flexible with preparation.
“Transitioning into the Pan American Cup, the focus shifts to high-performance readiness. That includes fine-tuning tactical execution under pressure, managing load to ensure peak physical condition, and mentally preparing the group for the demands of international-level competition,” he said.
Tshutshani adds that although this team is aiming to peak at the Pan American Cup and take a bid to the World Cup, there is also long-term development to consider as he prepares his team this season.
“In our training blocks we made a few adjustments as players settled into their roles and the training demands, but we’ve seen consistent improvement in intensity of training, thought process and execution of skills across the blocks,” he said. “The team’s progression has been encouraging. Individually, players are beginning to take more ownership of their development, and collectively there’s a stronger sense of purpose and unity. We’re building a program with depth, resilience, and long-term success in mind. That means using this season to grow leadership within the group, develop emerging players, and solidify a high-performance culture.”
FOLLOW THE RED CARIBOU AT UPCOMING EVENTS
Sikh Games – The Sikh Games is an annual tournament held in Surrey, BC. The Men’s and Women’s National Teams will be participating on June 26-29. The Sikh Games often draw international talent from all over the world and will provide an elite training environment for the Men’s National Team.
Pan American Cup – The Pan American Cup will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from July 24 to August 3. The winner of the Pan Am Cup will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
