FIELD Hockey Canada has confirmed the roster of nine athletes and three staff members nominated to represent Canada as part of Under-18 Field Hockey Team set to compete in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games from August 16 to 28.
The majority of players are South Asians including the captain Brandon Pereira (see photo).
“Above all else, Canadian International field hockey athletes aspire to compete successfully for Canada at the Olympic Games,” says Jeff Sauve, CEO of Field Hockey Canada. “The opportunity for these nine athletes to compete in a major Youth Games, organized by the International Olympic Committee, will serve Canada well in the future. In the short term, this will be an amazing opportunity for these hard-working and talented young men.”
The team will compete in a new adaptation of field hockey, called Hockey 5s, which is meant to be a high-scoring, fast and physical form of field hockey. It is played outdoors, on a smaller pitch enclosed by small shin-high boards.
“We want to be skillful, hardworking and we want to do whatever it takes to win,” says head coach Inderpal Sehmbi. “We have picked nine good players who all have different elements they bring to the table.”
“In this game, because you can score from everywhere, everyone has to be a threat.”
Canada qualified for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games by winning a silver medal at the 2014 Youth Pan American Games in February, and was then selected by the Canadian Olympic Committee as the lone men’s team sport to represent Canada at the Games.
“We have our Canadian Olympic Committee to thank for making this opportunity come to fruition,” adds Sauve. “It is a great source of pride that we are the team sport of choice representing Canada at the Youth Olympics.”
Canadian Under-18 Youth Olympic Field Hockey Team
Name / Hometown
* Arshjit (Amrit) Sidhu / Abbotsford, BC
* Balraj Panesar / Surrey, BC
* Braedon Muldoon / Ottawa, ON
* Brandon Pereira (Captain) / Surrey, BC
* Floyd Mascarenhas / Mississauga, ON
* Harbir Sidhu / Victoria, BC
* Parmeet Gill / Brampton, ON
* Vikram Sandhu / Vancouver, BC
* William (Liam) Manning (GK) / Ottawa, ON
Touring Staff
Head Coach – Inderpal Sehmbi
Team Manager – Scott Sandison
Athletic Therapist – Elwin Lau