THE South Asian-dominated West Coast Express ball hockey team is in Pilsen, Czech Republic, to represent Canada in the sport of ball hockey at the Pilsen Challenge Cup. The team has Deep Toor (Surrey), two time JTC goalie (U16 gold in 2010 and U20 4th place in 2014). Along with his world experience, Deep has played in four junior nationals with his most memorable one being on West Coast Express Head Coach Gary Slavin’s U15 provincial team in 2009 when BC won its first ever national title.

Jas Kahlon (Richmond) is a three-time JTC defenseman (U16 gold 2010, U18 gold 2012, U20 4th place 2014), and has been the strongest defenseman at over four junior nationals. Along with Jas and Jag on defense, Zoravar Sandhu (Richmond) has had four years experience at the junior nationals and will be a strong defensive defenseman.

The forward lineup consists of Paul Chima (Burnaby) who is a four-time junior national player and Teenu Bassi (New Westminster) who is one of the assistant captains, has world experience as part of the U18 Junior Team Canada staff in 2014.

As the team is made up of players mostly from the 20-26 year old range, Slavin has at one point or another coached many of these players at various ball hockey levels.

He says: “It’s nice to return to the world stage as a coach, my last international coaching trip was the U18 JTC in 2008 where we won gold in Zvolen, Slovakia. I’m very proud that Jagpal Sandhu (Vancouver), that was part of that team, is on this squad as one of our strongest defenseman and team captain. Our depth of international experienced players starts with Jag as he has two gold medals as a JTC player in 2008 and 2010 and as a U16 coach took bronze with the team in 2012 and silver in 2014.”