(Feature Image: Kent Locke)
Sunday was a busy day for Canadian field hockey teams on tour in three different parts of the world, with each of the three squads in action and winning their matches to end the weekend.
Senior men pick up first win on South Africa tour against hosts
In South Africa, the Men’s National Team played its third friendly match since arriving in Cape Town earlier this week. After a loss and draw in its two games against Ireland earlier in the week, the Canadians picked up their first win on Sunday in a matchup with the host South Africans.
Iain Smythe and Hudson Stewart were the goal scorers for Canada in the 2-1 victory. The Men’s National Team has had a steady dose of activity in its first week in Cape Town, with several two-a-days consisting of matches and training. Their next matches will take place on January 20th and 21st, both officially sanctioned test matches against Ireland.
Junior women earn second win in fourth match with Chile
In Santiago, Chile, the Under-21 Women’s National Team picked up its second win in a seven game series with Chile. Heading in to the match, the women had won one and lost two of the first three matches in the series. In Sunday’s 2-0 win, Canada’s goals were scored by Priya Randhawa and Margaret Pham.
The Chile tour serves as preparation for qualification phase of the 2016 Junior World Cup (JWC). Canada will travel to Trinidad and Tobago in March in attempt to qualify for the JWC, which takes place at the end of the year. Three games remain in the seven game series with Chile.
(Photo: Lorena Angus)
Junior men win third straight against United States in Chula Vista
The Under-21 Men’s National Team is in a similar scenario as the women getting set to attempt qualification for the 2016 Junior World Cup at the end of the year. This summer, the men will host the 2016 Junior Pan American Championships in Toronto, Ontario and must finish in the top two to qualify for the JWC at the end of the year in India.
The men are currently on tour in Chula Vista, California for a four-game series against the United States Under-21 team. Sunday’s game was game three of four, and Canada – on goals from Ganga Singh, Kabir Aujla, and Shahbaaz Dhaliwal – won 3-0. They have won the firs three matches and will look to complete the sweep on Monday.
