Anytime an athlete enters a new environment with new coaches, new surroundings, new teammates, and new expectations it can be an eye opening experience; maybe almost intimidating.
Doing so as that same team attempts to achieve a feat that rarely been accomplished in its history could be even more daunting.
But in the case of the Canadian Women’s National Field Hockey Team, which is set to continue its journey of trying to return to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1992, intimidation couldn’t been farther from the atmosphere.
For the handful of newcomers to the Women’s National Team – which begins play at Women’s World League Round 2 this weekend in Dublin, Ireland – it has been that very environment that has allowed them to immediately feel at ease.
“That was one of the things that really impressed the team when I came in November,” says Alex Thicke, a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia who recently graduated from the University of Toronto. “Although you could tell who the leadership group was, they were very inclusive and very welcoming and experienced.”
Thicke is part of a group of athletes who are new additions to the Women’s National Team and Senior Development Squad, and an even smaller group that has joined many experienced veterans on the touring roster competing in Ireland.
“Obviously there were nine girls that were not selected to go so it’s a big responsibility and honour to go and represent them as well,” she adds. “Being a newcomer to the team, I do have a big role to fill.”
Goalkeeper Beckett Frisch, who like Thicke, was named to the Senior Development Squad in late 2014 before being named to the World League 2 roster, has a different role to fill.
Being one of two goalies on the trip alongside Kaitlyn Williams, who is coming off her 50th international match for Canada, Frisch knows that the experience will be valuable regardless of the amount she plays.
“My mindset is to stay ready,” says Frisch, who hails from Calgary, Alberta. “Obviously Rocky (Williams) is a great keeper and she’s going to be the go-to. But anything can happen in the span of a tournament, so I just have to keep my head in it.”
Frisch and Thicke, along with Victoria’s Rosie Beale who is also in Ireland with the team, are all coming off their first international matches for Canada at a recent training tour in New Zealand.
That experience, a first on the senior international stage for all three, where players were being evaluated for potential inclusion on the World League 2 team, while important also was a great way to get acclimated with the team before a big tournament like World League 2.
“I thought that was a great experience to see what I’m in for moving forward,” says Frisch, who played ice hockey before taking up field hockey at the age of fourteen.
Both Frisch and Thicke credit the staff and players with creating a positive and open environment which has allowed them not only to fit in at the senior international level but, as evidenced by the selection to the World League 2 team, also to excel.
“It’s been a really easy transition because everyone has been so great and so welcoming,” adds Thicke. “I forget that I’ve only been on the team for two months.”
Canada opens World League Round 2 against Turkey on Saturday, March 14 before facing host Ireland on Sunday.
The top two finishers at World League 2 gain an entry into World League Round 3 in Spain in June, where the top three teams will earn a spot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
