Field Hockey Canada Unveils Squad for 2024 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers
Field Hockey Canada is proud to present the 18-player roster that will represent Canada at the anticipated 2024 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Valencia, Spain. Scheduled from January 13-21, 2024, this tournament marks a last-chance qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Having secured their spot through the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, where the team clinched a fourth-place finish, the Canadians are geared up for the challenges ahead. The road to the Olympic Games involves a challenging competition with eight teams divided into two pools, where the top three finishers will earn their coveted spots. There is a simultaneous eight-team tournament happening in India with the identical format and three teams advancing as well. 12 teams in total qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.
| POOL A | POOL B |
|---|---|
| Belgium | Great Britain |
| Korea | Spain |
| Ireland | Canada |
| Ukraine | Malaysia |
The team is coming out of a month-long training block after Pan American Games with multiple smaller camps built into their training. Head Coach Danny Kerry said the team has reflected, learned and built from Pan Ams during their training block.
“We’ve had an excellent camp focussed around areas of learning from the Pan Am Games. These will stand us in good stead for Valencia,” he said. “We understand that on ranking, and historically we are underdogs in the tournament. We also know that we will be well prepared, tactically and physically ready for the Games ahead and very together as a team.”
Maintaining a core lineup from the Pan American Games, the squad introduces Grace Delmotte and Dani Husar and activates Marcia LaPlante off the reserve list. This strategic continuity from Santiago builds on team chemistry and adds depth to an already talented roster.
The blend of experience and youth is a hallmark of this Canadian team, ranging from the debutante Dani Husar to the seasoned veteran Sara McManus, who boasts an impressive 211 caps. McManus, alongside stalwarts like Karli Johansen, Nat Sourisseau, Kat Leahy, Elise Wong, and goalkeeper Rowan Harris, forms a veteran core with invaluable experience, having played in the 2019 qualifiers in Ireland. Kerry said the team will be relying on the group of veteran players to show the way, when it comes to playing in these high stakes events. Everyone will have to make an impact for Canada to come out on top.
“We have a small nucleus of players who understand the nature of Olympic Qualifier tournaments, and understand how to leverage that experience. Equally we have a vibrant energetic group itching to get going and looking forward to the tournament,” Kerry said.
Canada’s women’s field hockey team stands on the brink of history, aiming to return to the Olympic stage for the first time since the 1990s. After a triumphant qualification for the World Cup, the team is determined to replicate this success and etch their name in the annals of Canadian field hockey history at the Olympic Games. The entire nation eagerly awaits this thrilling journey in Valencia, where our women’s team will strive to make a mark on the global stage once again.
Canada’s women’s field hockey team has an opportunity to make history, aiming to return to the Olympic stage for the first time since the 1990s. After a triumphant qualification for the 16-teamWorld Cup in 2022, the team is determined to replicate this success.
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