Canada’s Tokyo 2020 field hockey team announced

VANCOUVER (June 28, 2021) – Field Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s men’s field hockey team nominated to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The team qualified by defeating Ireland in a two-game series in West Vancouver in October 2019. The thrilling qualifying series on home soil came down to a sudden-death shootout that resulted in Canada securing the win and the berth for Tokyo 2020.

It has been 20 months since that qualifying moment. This is the first time the Men’s National Team has qualified for back-to-back Olympic Games since competing at Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988. Tokyo 2020 will be team captain Scott Tupper’s third Olympic Games following his appearances with the team at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016.

“Personally, to be able to compete in a third Olympics is definitely something I’m incredibly proud of and excited for,” said Tupper, who was also Team Canada’s Opening Ceremony flag bearer at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. “Anytime you get to represent your country, it’s a huge honour. I cherish my Olympic experiences and am looking forward to this year’s Games.”

Canada’s pool includes the top four competitors from June’s European Hockey Championship and Commonwealth rival South Africa. Tupper expects his team to rise to the occasion and play their best hockey when it matters.

“Although the Olympic experience will be different this time around, I fully expect the Olympic competition to be just as fierce as ever,” he said. “Whether there are fans or not, it’s still the best teams in the world competing for medals. We’ll have our fans cheering us on from back home and we’re really looking forward to testing ourselves against the best in the world. I expect us to be competitive in every game and fighting for points at every moment.”

This year’s team features eight athletes returning from the Rio 2016 roster and eight first-time Olympians.

“Having that experience of going through a major Games or two is really important. We’ve been through it all before so we know what to expect,” he added. “With that said, it’s also really nice to have that young injection of energy and youth. They are wide-eyed and seeing things for the first time. That fresh attitude can remind us how truly amazing this experience is. I think striking that balance is great for our team.”

The Olympic men’s field hockey competition will take place July 24 to August 5 (Day 1 to Day 13) at the Oi Hockey Stadium.

“I remember the incredible victory that this team achieved to qualify for these Olympics; it was electrifying,” said Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission, Marnie McBean. “I can’t wait to see that kind of intensity and energy again from them in Tokyo!”

The athletes and coaches nominated are:

Brenden Bissett (New Westminster, B.C.)
John (Fin) Boothroyd (West Vancouver, B.C.)
Brendan Guraliuk (Delta, B.C.)
Gabriel Ho-Garcia (Burnaby, B.C.)
Gordon Johnston (Vancouver, B.C.)
Antoni Kindler (Vancouver, B.C.)
James Kirkpatrick (Victoria, B.C.)
Sukhpal (Sukhi) Panesar (Surrey, B.C.)
Mark Pearson (Tsawwassen, B.C.)
Keegan Pereira (Pickering, Ont.)
Matthew Sarmento (Vancouver, B.C.)
Oliver Scholfield (Vancouver, B.C.)
John Smythe (Vancouver, B.C.)
Scott Tupper (Vancouver B.C.)
Floris van Son (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Jamie Wallace (Vancouver, B.C.)

Traveling Alternates:
Taylor Curran (North Vancouver, B.C.)
David Vandenbossche (Ghent, Belgium)

Non-Traveling Alternates:
Brandon Pereira (Surrey, B.C.)
David Carter (Vancouver, B.C.)

Coaching Staff:
Pasha Gademan (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Andre Henning (Cologne, Germany)
Craig Sieben (Lieden, Netherlands)

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.

The latest Team Canada Tokyo 2020 roster can be found here and the qualification tracker can be found here.

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Kevin Underhill, Communications Manager
Field Hockey Canada
C: 604-868-7189
E: kunderhill@fieldhockey.ca

Josh Su, Specialist, Public Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-464-4060
E: jsu@olympic.ca