Field Hockey Canada > USA Defeats Canada in frantic pool B action

USA Defeats Canada in frantic pool B action

Feature Photo: Oscar Munoz Badilla

January 22, 2022 | Field Hockey Canada | fieldhockey.ca

Canada suffers 2-1 defeat at the hands of Pan Am Rival USA

With a few minutes left, Canada pulled goalkeeper Antoni Kindler to add an extra attacker. They laid siege to the US net but came up empty and USA walked off the pitch with a 2-1 victory, giving them the stranglehold over pool B.

The first quarter flew by with a frantic pace. Both teams exchanged loose chances but neither team could get on the board. Canada controlled most of the play and mounted pressure with several circle entries but couldn’t capitalize or earn a corner.


USA defeats Canada 2-1 in second-round action from Santiago. Photos/Oscar Munoz Badilla


In the second quarter, USA took advantage of a Canadian yellow card and ramped up the pressure, ultimately leading to a Jack Heldons goal in the 27th minute. As Canada started the second half, there was a sense of urgency in their game as they laid it all out trying to equalize. USA countered early in the fourth quarter and generated a second goal off the stick of Kai Kokolakis.

Trailing by two in the fourth, Canada brought the full onslaught of pressure. Gordon Johnston recovered after a blocked penalty corner and smashed in a goal in the 51st minute, but that’s all Canada could muster. According to Johnston’s post-game field-side interview, Canada never found their footing in this game, and he’s frustrated with the team’s sloppy effort.

“We just came up short today. We were flat all across the park,” Johnston said. “We’re frustrated that we didn’t get a result today. We feel good about our process and we will make sure to bring our best in the next game.”

The frustrating effort leaves Canada fighting for second in their pool, which will likely vault them onto the Argentina side of the bracket. According to head coach, Pasha Gademan, the team didn’t have their best stuff today. He said they failed to penetrate and often played too predictably.

“We were never really committed. We just simply weren’t connected today We felt a little too one-dimensional,” he said. “From here, we have to break down the film, break down the specifics, talk to one another,  and come out and play a bounce-back game against Trinidad. We’ll focus on that match before we look any further forward.”


Our national teams are able to compete at the 2022 Pan American Cup thanks to the generous support from our sponsors. Thank you to our apparel partner, Indian Maharadja, our equipment supplier, Gryphon Hockey, and our club partners, West Vancouver FHC and Tamanawis Field Hockey Society, for supporting the Red Caribou and Wolf Pack!

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