The Women’s National Team kicks off their World Cup Qualifier tournament this Sunday in Santiago, Chile. The tournament takes place March 2-8 and follows a standard tournament format. A three-game pool play is followed by semifinals and consolation play. The implications are also straightforward: finish on the podium and a berth to the World Cup is yours. The FIH is hosting the 2026 Hockey World Cup for both men and women in Netherlands and Belgium in August.
Canada’s Women’s National Team qualified for the most recent FIH World Cup in 2022 and after a 28-year hiatus and are now chasing a first back-to-back qualification since the early 1990s.
The Canadian Wolf Pack is ranked 22 in the world and opens their tournament against Japan (world ranked 12) on Monday March 2. Japan may have the edge in the world ranking and in recent head-to-head games, but our women will look to get off to a flying start and build on their recent progress. Canada then takes on Malaysia (21) on March 3. Canada’s most recent result against Malaysia was a 3-0 win at the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers in Spain. The Wolf Pack closes out pool-play on March 5 against the 13th world-ranked Ireland. Canada hasn’t played against Ireland since losing the heartbreaking Olympic Qualifiers in Dublin in 2019 and will be looking to get a lick of revenge in that one. Finishing top two in the pool is an imperative if you want to get a berth to the 2026 World Cup.
Team Canada plays at the 2025 Pan American Cup in Uruguay. Photos/WorldSportPics
Team Canada has a young and exciting roster. While they have an average of only 24 caps per player at this tournament, it is a team packed with youthful energy and junior international experience on the world stage. Of the 20-player roster participating in this week’s World Cup Qualifier, nine athletes have junior caps in the last three years. Many have come through the Canadian NextGen system and have at least 20 youth and junior caps to build on before they even begin their senior career.
Head Coach Sheldon Rostron said in preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers, the team has been approaching training with purpose, energy and full-on engagement. He notes that chemistry, unity and resilience is key.
“The way we are approaching training sessions, meetings, and matches has become more purposeful and energizing, and it is encouraging to see the team fully engaged in performance and actively searching for the small margins, the 1% gains, that separate good from great,” Rostron said. “At major events, unity is always tested. Mental resilience, shared belief, and collective confidence are challenged under pressure. We are striving to make significant progress in this area. Our aim is for belief, intent, and persistence to translate consistently into performance when it matters most.”
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POSITION | HOMETOWN | CLUB | CAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Rebecca Carvalho | Brampton ON, | MID | Toronto Titans | 5 |
| 27 | Laine Delmotte | North Vancouver, BC | MID | West Vancouver | 4 |
| 9 | Jordyn Faiczak | Waterloo, ON | FWD | Sea to Sky | 56 |
| 24 | Katherine Gibb | Vancouver, BC | DEF | Vancouver Hawks | 5 |
| 11 | Kenzie Girgis | Ottawa, ON | MID | UBC Thunderbirds | 32 |
| 21 | Nora Goddard-Despot | North Vancouver, BC | FWD | K.M.T.H.C Belgium | 21 |
| 20 | Libby Hogg | Victoria, BC | DEF | UVIC Vikes | 9 |
| 22 | Danielle Husar | Mississauga, ON | FWD | Polar Bears | 26 |
| 23 | Allison Kuzyk | Vancouver, BC | FWD | Meralomas | 9 |
| 34 | Marcia LaPlante | Waasis, NB | GK | Sea to Sky | 27 |
| 1 | Camilla MacGillivray | Calgary, AB | GK | 2 | |
| 5 | Brooke McCusker | North Vancouver, BC | MID | West Vancouver | 21 |
| 7 | Anna Mollenhauer | Victoria, BC | DEF | Bowdon Hockey Club | 67 |
| 16 | Rylie Novak | Vancouver, BC | DEF | Vancouver Hawks | 5 |
| 2 | Nicole Poulakis | Ajax, ON | MID | Dolphins Hockey Club | 9 |
| 3 | Thora Rae | Vancouver, BC | FWD | Vancouver Hawks | 45 |
| 4 | Julia Ross | Vancouver, BC | FWD | Vancouver Hawks | 17 |
| 17 | Mikayla Stelling | Vancouver, BC | FWD | UBC Thunderbirds | 22 |
| 10 | Chloe Walton | North Vancouver, BC | FWD | K.M.T.H.C Belgium | 34 |
| 8 | Elise Wong | Vancouver, BC | DEF | Vancouver Hawks | 63 |
| STAFF NAME | ROLE | ||||
| Sheldon Rostron | Head Coach | ||||
| Shaun Hulley | Assistant Coach | ||||
| Niels Bakker | Assistant Coach | ||||
| Chantal Campbell | Team Manager | ||||
| Dave Cox | Video Analyst | ||||
| Daniela Hoolaeff | Athletic Therapist |
Donate to the National Teams now and double your dollars
Field Hockey Canada is proud to announce the launch of our Double Your Dollars Matching Campaign, a national fundraising initiative supporting our Senior and Junior National Teams as they prepare for another busy season of major international competitions. Thanks to generous donor support, all eligible donations made during the designated campaign window will be matched dollar-for-dollar, allowing supporters across the country to double their impact and support the athletes representing Canada on the world stage.
Field Hockey Canada is committed to elevating Canada’s Senior Women’s and Men’s National Teams in this World Cup year. As the Wolf Pack and Red Caribou head to Chile for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, what better time to wrap your support around them.
For the next four weeks, all donations made through the Back the Pack (WNT) and Back the Bou (MNT) online hubs will be matched.
Every dollar donated to either team will be matched up to $10,000 per team. All fundraising will be securely tracked through Field Hockey Canada’s trusted donation partner, Canada Helps.
