TORONTO (September 26, 2023) – Field Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced the nomination of the Canadian Field Hockey Team to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The Canadian field hockey team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is as follows:

Athletes:

Female list:
Jordyn Faiczak (Waterloo, ON)
Kenzie Girgis (Ottawa, ON)
Sara Goodman (Duncan, British Columbia)
Rowan Harris (Ottawa, ON)
Karli Johansen (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Kathleen Leahy (Victoria, British Columbia)
Sam McCrory (Kitchener, ON)
Sara McManus (Tsawwassen, British Columbia)
Anna Mollenhauer (Victoria, British Columbia)
Thora Rae (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Audrey Sawers (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Mélanie Scholz (Calgary, Alta.)
Natalie Sourisseau (Kelowna, British Columbia)
Madison Thompson (Waterloo, ON)
Chloe Walton (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Élise Wong (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Male 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 Guraliuk (Tsawwassen, British Columbia)
Thomson Harris (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Gordon Johnston (Vancouver, British Columbia)
James Kirkpatrick (Victoria, British Columbia)
Ethan McTavish (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Devohn Noronha Teixeira (Mississauga, ON)
Balraj Panesar (Surrey, British Columbia)
Keegan Pereira (Pickering, ON)
Matthew Sarmento (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Oliver Scholfield (Scarborough, ON)
Floris van Son (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Both Canadian teams qualified for Santiago 2023 thanks to their bronze medals 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 recruited Danny Kerry as head coach and Kate Richardson-Walsh as assistant coach. Kerry coached the Richardson-Walsh-led British women’s team to a historic Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016. The Canadian women’s team is currently ranked 15th.^th in the FIH world rankings and are the third team in the Pan American region.

Natalie Sourisseau, veteran midfielder and team captain, will compete in her fourth consecutive Pan American Games. For Sourisseau, representing Canada at a major multi-sport Games is a privilege and a unique experience.

“Not many people get to represent their country and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to wear the maple leaf. “Experiencing the energy of this type of event and sharing that experience with so many other Canadian athletes across all sporting disciplines is incredible,” said Sourisseau. “For many of our athletes, this will be their first Pan American Games. We’re looking forward to the experience, putting all the things we’ve been working on into practice and being able to compete in a 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. Chile and host country Mexico are the other two teams in Canada’s pool.

The men’s national team, nicknamed the Red Caribou, is looking to turn its silver medal from Lima 2019 into gold, having finished second to Argentina at the last three Pan American Games. The men’s team, a mix of youth and experience, includes seven players who competed at Lima 2019 and 10 members of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic team.

The Canadian men’s team currently has 16^th in the FIH world rankings and 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 Olympic Games and one FIH Hockey World Cup, emphasizes that the Pan American Games represent a specific challenge and opportunity.

“It’s always incredibly special to represent Canada at a 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 feeling of enthusiasm in the group, everyone has their eyes on Olympic qualification and is ready to fight for it.

Both Team Canada’s women’s and men’s teams won silver at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. At Santiago 2023, the teams that win gold will earn direct qualification to the Paris 2024 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. “These are an incredible multi-sport Games and, of course, with Olympic qualification on the line, a high-stakes hockey competition. I think our teams have 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 encourage our incredible teams.

Field hockey will take place from October 25 to November 4 (days 5 to 15) at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped within the Estadio Nacional.

“I am excited to welcome the men’s and women’s field hockey teams to Team Canada for Santiago 2023! With every swing of the stick, they inspire each other and us, showcasing teamwork and creating a legacy that resonates far beyond this field,” said Christine Girard, Chef de Mission of Team Canada in Santiago 2023.

The athletes and coaches on Team Canada’s field hockey team for the Santiago 2023 Alternate Pan American Games are:

Alternate athletes (traveling)
Zachary Coombs (Chelsea, Que.)
Alexis de Armond (Victoria, British Columbia)
Marcia LaPlante (Wassis, New Brunswick)
Harbir Sidhu (Victoria, British Columbia)

Coaches
Danny Kerry (Norfolk, England) – Women’s Head Coach
Geoff Matthews (North Vancouver, BC) – Men’s Assistant Coach
Kate Richardson-Walsh (London, England) – Women’s Assistant Coach
Patrick Tshutshani (Lady Grey, South Africa) – Men’s Head Coach

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee Team Selection Committee following receipt of nominations by all national sport organizations.

The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kevin Underhill, Manager, Communications
Field Hockey Canada
604-868-7189
Email: [email protected]

Tara MacBournie, Sports Communications Manager for Team Canada Santiago 2023
Canadian Olympic Committee
C:647-522-8328
Email: [email protected]