The Canadian junior national women’s field-hockey team, including five players from the Island, will have to wait until next week to leave South Africa.
A flight back to Canada via Frankfurt has tentatively been secured for Wednesday, according to team officials.
“It’s been a bit crazy down here as we continue to navigate through this whole thing,” said Canadian team manager Nancy Mollenhauer, a two-time Olympian who hails from Victoria, in an email from South Africa.
Mollenhauer said while the team is excited and grateful, members are “well aware that these arrangements could change at any time.”
“We are remaining positive and optimistic that all will be well and our group will be home soon. As you can appreciate, it is a very stressful time for the young women on the team, as well as their families back in Canada.”
What was supposed to be the championship tournament of a young lifetime has turned into a nightmare for the Canadian squad. Not only did the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern cause a sudden postponement of the Junior World Cup in South Africa, which was scheduled for Dec. 5-17, it left the Canadian team stranded, with most commercial flights out of South Africa cancelled.
“The health, safety and well-being of our athletes and staff is the first priority. I’m happy to report that everyone is healthy and safe and trying to make the best out of a challenging situation,” said Susan Ahrens, CEO of Field Hockey Canada, in a statement.
Ahrens said Field Hockey Canada is working with government and travel representatives to find the “fastest and safest” way to bring the players home as soon as possible, and is keeping parents informed.
The Canadian team arrived Nov. 21 and was conducting its pre-World Cup training camp at North-West University in Potchefstroom, about 130 kilometres from Johannesburg. The stranded players have been spending time in their rooms while continuing to train each day for a World Cup that now won’t happen until a date to be determined next year, if at all.
“We’re heartbroken for the athletes. They have trained so hard for the opportunity to represent Canada at the World Cup,” said Ahrens.
“They are an amazing group that has represented our nation so well. We are really proud of how they are handling such a challenging situation. We hope they will be able to take the field at a future date.”
Canadian team members include Stefanie Sajko, Libby Hogg, Nora Struchtrup and Tayler Guy, all from Victoria, and Jenna Goodman of Duncan. Sajko, Hogg and Struchtrup won the U Sports national championship last month with the University of Victoria Vikes. Goodman plays for UBC and Guy for the University of Calgary.
“We are extremely devastated that the Junior World Cup has been postponed,” said Sajko. “However, we understand this decision [to postpone].”
Canada qualified for the Junior World Cup in South Africa by winning the Americas’ regional qualifying tournament in September at Santiago, Chile. The Canadian junior team players are being prepared for the 2024 Paris, 2028 Los Angeles and 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
“It’s honestly been pretty crazy. We know everyone is doing everything they can in this pretty surreal situation,” said Struchtrup.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
