Most of the players on the University of Victoria field-hockey pitch for the six-game Canada-Chile women’s junior national team series this week are realistically shooting for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
But for the select few, Tokyo 2020 may be within range, despite their relative youth.
“There are a few of these players who could compete for spots on the senior national team on the road to 2020,” Canadian junior team head coach Shiaz Virjee said.
Chile defeated Canada 3-0 on Tuesday, but Canada still leads the series 2-1-1. The final two games are Thursday and Friday at UVic at 4 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Among the emerging talents Virjee mentioned as contenders for senior national team spots over the next few years are Island players Anna Mollenhauer, daughter of 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympian Nancy Charlton, fellow Victorian Lexi De Armond and Duncan’s Sara Goodman. All are defenders.
“It’s going to be tough, but I’m hoping to push for a place on the senior national team [for Tokyo 2020 qualifying],” said Goodman. At 18, she already has nine senior team caps for Canada.
Goodman and Samantha McCrory of Waterloo, Ont., were called up to the Canadian senior team that last month gained Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifying points by winning the Hockey Series Open in Salamanca, Mexico.
McCrory, an attacker, scored six goals during the Mexico tournament in a spectacular senior national team debut and showed why there is so much anticipation on Ring Road in having her as a UVic Vikes freshman in the fall.
“The whole national team program — from junior to senior players — believe in what we are doing,” said Goodman, a graduate of Cowichan High.
Goodman described the series against Chile as a “good learning opportunity.”
And a unique one for her: “It’s extra special because it’s on my home island.”
She should get used to it. Field Hockey Canada recently relocated the senior and junior national women’s teams to UVic, becoming the 11th Canadian sport to have national teams based in Greater Victoria.
The Canadian junior team is preparing for the Six Nations U-21 Tournament July 9-22 in Antwerp, Belgium.
“We’re looking forward to it because, internationally, we usually play Pan-American nations and don’t usually get to play European national teams,” said Goodman.
Indeed, the UVic pitch has turned into a hockey field of dreams.
