Depth in a talent pipeline in Paraguay
While the Junior Pan American Games were completed in Paraguay last week, Canada’s Junior National Teams have delivered versions that reflect a growing legacy of strength and depth in the Junior Veldhockey programs of the country.
The national team of the junior ladies kept their seed of last year’s junior pan Ams on a home floor and finished fifth in general. Their campaign included victories on Paraguay (2-0) and Guyana (4-0), and a reg drawing against Mexico in fifth place. Canada lost competitions to Argentina and Uruguay. These athletes came through youth programs (U16 & U18) that include domestic training and annual international tours as part of the NextGen Talent Pad. The Junior Pan American Games has built up further international experience that athletes serve well, while continuing their journey in domestic and international university, club, junior national teams. As well as future transition to senior hockey.
The Junior Women of Canada finish fifth on the Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay. Photos/Rodrigo Jaramillo.
The national team of the Junior Heren continued their line in the American Region Pan and reached the gold medal competition for the fourth consecutive time. After a strict loss for Mexico, the team bounced back with victories over Chile, Trinidad & Tobago, and a particularly impressive 1-0 semi-final victory over the US. They eventually fell to Argentina 4-2 in the final, but the performance meant a step forward, especially considering the youth of the team.
This year’s JMNT schedule reflects a program that has grown and developed in recent years, so that strength and depth has been built in Canada. This is clear in selection selection. Where earlier selections such as the Junior World Cup team 2013, the team almost completely consisted of BC -Athletes and only couple from Ontario, the JPAG team of 2025 contained players from all over the country. Four players came from Ontario, 3 from Alberta, 8 from BC, as well as 1 from the UK. This emerging depth and performance in the National Youth Pathway are good for the future.
Both Junior teams ended in the same positions as the Junior Pan American Championship last year. However, an important difference is reflective this always reinforcing system development system. This year’s squadrons were selected from a broader athlete pool of 30 identified age group athletes, who built international experience in a broader swimming pool during the three important international contact points of this year: centralization camps, the Junior Pan AMS or the coming Junior World Cup.
The junior men finish second in Paraguay on the Junior Pan American Games. Photos/Rodrigo Jaramillo.
The Junior National Teams are also noticeable architects of another critical element for our future success: the expectations of national teams shift from a qualification as a successful expectation of qualifying for every major. In the coming Junior World Cups, the third consecutive world-level events that both junior teams have qualified. In addition, these teams have set a bar and expectation. The focus now shifts sharply to versions in the Majors themselves.
With this next stop for these emerging Canadian hockey stars on just a matter of weeks, the focus is now on the Junior World Cup in November/December, where Canada is looking forward to the possibility of taking the next step.
Canadian officials
Congratulations to Pamba Manikandan (referee), Nora Struchtrup (UMPire) and Sanjay d’Ilva (TO) for their performance at the Junior Pan American Games. Field Hockey Canada is proud to send Canadian officials to international competitions around the world.
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