TORONTO (September 26, 2023) – Field Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the nomination of the Canadian field hockey team to compete at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.
The Team Canada field hockey team for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago is:
Athletes:
Ladies list:
Jordyn Wychak (Waterloo, Ontario)
Kenzi Girgis (Ottawa, Ontario)
Sarah Goodman (Duncan, British Columbia)
Rowan Harris (Ottawa, Ontario)
Carly Johansen (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Kathleen Leahy (Victoria, British Columbia)
Sam McCrory (Kitchener, Ontario)
Sarah McManus (Tsawwassen, British Columbia)
Anna Mollenhauer (Victoria, British Columbia)
Thora Rae (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Audrey Sowers (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Melanie Schultz (Calgary, Alta.)
Natalie Sorriso (Kelowna, British Columbia)
Madison Thompson (Waterloo, Ontario)
Chloe Walton (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Elise Wong (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Men’s list:
Brenden Bissett (New Westminster, British Columbia)
Findlay Boothroyd (West Vancouver, British Columbia)
Sam Cabral (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Taylor Curran (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Sean Davis (Marondera, Zimbabwe)
Brendan Goraluk (Tsawwassen, British Columbia)
Thompson Harris (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Gordon Johnston (Vancouver, British Columbia)
James Kirkpatrick (Victoria, British Columbia)
Ethan Mactavish (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Devon Noronha Teixeira (Mississauga, Ontario)
Balraj Panesar (Surrey, British Columbia)
Keegan Pereira (Pickering, Ontario)
Matthew Sarmiento (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Oliver Scholfield (Scarborough, Ontario)
Floris Van Son (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Both Canadian teams qualified for Santiago 2023 thanks to a bronze medal finish at the Pan American Cup in January 2022.
The women’s national team, nicknamed the Canadian Wolf Pack, includes five athletes who competed at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, and ten members of Canada’s 2022 FIH Hockey World Cup roster. Earlier this year, the team hired Danny Curry as head coach and Kate Richardson-Walsh as assistant coach. Kerry coached the British women’s team, which Richardson-Walsh led to a historic Olympic gold medal in Rio 2016. The Canadian women’s team is currently ranked 15th.y In the FIH world rankings they are the number three team in the Pan American region.
Natalie Sourisso, a veteran midfielder and team captain, will compete in her fourth consecutive Pan American Games. For Sourisso, representing Canada in multiple major sports is a privilege and a unique experience.
“There are not many individuals who can represent their country, and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to wear a maple leaf. To experience the energy of this type of event, and to share the experience with so many other Canadian athletes in various sporting disciplines, is incredible,” said Sourisso. “For a number of our athletes, this will be their first Pan Am Games. We are looking forward to gaining experience, applying all the things we have been working on, and competing in the tournament for the first time in over a year.
The women’s team will open the group stage with a match against Cuba on October 26. Host country Chile and Mexico are the other two teams in Canada’s group.
The men’s national team, nicknamed the Red Caribou, is looking to upgrade its silver medal from Lima 2019 to gold, having finished second to Argentina in the last three Pan American Games. The men’s team, which combines youth and experience, includes seven players who participated in the Lima 2019 Olympics and 10 members of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic team.
The Canadian men’s team is currently ranked 16thy In the FIH World Rankings they are the second team in the Pan American region.
Team captain Gordon Johnston is no stranger to major international competitions. Johnston, who has competed in two Pan American Games, two Olympics and an IIHF Hockey World Cup, points out that the Pan American Games represent a specific challenge and opportunity.
“It’s always special to represent Canada in major games. The stakes are high and the competition is tough,” Johnston said. “Playing meaningful games like this is what it’s all about. There is a great sense of excitement in the group, everyone has their eyes on qualifying for the Olympics and is ready to fight for it.
Team Canada’s women’s and men’s teams won silver at the Pan American Games Lima 2019. In Santiago 2023, teams that win gold will qualify directly for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“The Pan American Games represent an incredible opportunity for our athletes and staff,” said Emma Bray, Director of High Performance at Field Hockey Canada. “It’s an amazing multi-sport Games, and of course, with Olympic qualification, there’s high-stakes hockey competition. I think our team has what it takes to be there at the end of the tournament. I speak on behalf of our organization and the hockey community when I say how excited I am to support and motivate our great teams.”
The field hockey game will take place from October 25 to November 4 (days 5-15) at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped inside the Estadio Nacional.
“I am excited to welcome the men’s and women’s hockey teams to Team Canada at Santiago 2023! With every click, they inspire each other and us, showcase teamwork, and create a legacy that resonates far beyond this field”.
Team Canada’s field hockey roster of athletes and alternate coaches for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago are:
Alternative Athletes (Travel)
Zachary Coombs (Chelsea, Que.).
Alexis D’Armond (Victoria, British Columbia)
Marcia Laplante (Oasis, New Brunswick)
Harper Sidhu (Victoria, British Columbia)
Trainers
Danny Keary (Norfolk, England) – Women’s Head Coach
Jeff Matthews (North Vancouver, BC) – Men’s Assistant Coach
Kate Richardson-Walsh (London, England) – Women’s Assistant Coach
Patrick Chuchani (Lady Grey, South Africa) – Men’s coach
Before being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee after nominations are received by all national sporting organizations.
The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.
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Media contact:
Kevin Underhill, Director of Communications
Field hockey canada
A: 604-868-7189
Email: [email protected]
Tara McBurney, Sports Communications Lead for Team Canada Santiago 2023
Canadian Olympic Committee
A: 647-522-8328
Email: [email protected]
