The Canadian Women's Field Hockey Team will be traveling to Stellenbosch, South Africa, 10-26 January 2007, to play six matches against host South Africa and Ireland. The tour provides an important opportunity for some warm weather training and great competition against two teams ranked internationally in the top 15.
The Canadian Women, currently ranked 23rd, will have three tough matches against the 12th ranked South Africans. The premier African nation will be match fit, coming off a series of internationals against Germany, Netherlands and England in the New Year.
The three matches with Ireland, currently ranked 14th, will have some familiarities for National Coach Sally Bell. Sally was previously the Assistant Coach for the Irish Women's Team and Gene Muller, the current Women's Irish Team Coach, was previously the Canadian Men's National Coach.
ÔÇÿWe are excited about this tour as it represents the first competitive step in the team's preparation for the Pan American Games in Brazil, (13-29 July 2007). The women will gain important international experience in warm weather conditions similar to those expected in Brazil', said coach Bell.
Cailie O'Hara from the University of Toronto and Diana Roemer from the University of Alberta have been selected for their first tour, while the team will be led by veteran Sarah Forbes with a team high 122 International Caps.
It is an important year for the Canadian Team whose sole objective is to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The winner of the Pan American Games Tournament will automatically qualify for Beijing. The Olympic Qualifying Tournament to be held in Vancouver, Canada, April 2008 presents a second opportunity for the team to qualify with a home crowd advantage.
From 1 January 2007, the Women's National Program will be based full time in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia incorporating both the Pan American Games and the Olympic Qualification Tournaments. National Coach Sally Bell indicated that this was a significant step forward in Canadian Field Hockey and will allow improved preparation of the team over the 16-month period maximizing Canada's opportunities to compete successfully and qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games.
South African Tour Team
1. Azelia Liu - Scarborough, ON
2. Sarah Forbes - Fredericton, NB
3. Andrea Rushton - Victoria, BC
4. Katie Rushton - Victoria, BC
5. Megan Anderson - Duncan, BC
6. Clare Linton - Vancouver, BC
7. Philippa Kedgley - Vancouver, BC
8. Ali Lee - Victoria, BC
9. Diana Roemer - Vancouver Island BC
10. Christine DePape - Vancouver, BC
11. Cailie O'Hara - Toronto, ON
12. Stephanie Jameson - Vancouver, BC
13. Kim Buker - Kelowna, BC
14. Tiffany Michaluk - West Vancouver, BC
15. Katie Baker - Argyle Shore, PEI
16. Thea Culley - Rossland, BC
17. Erin Mason - Kelowna, BC
18. Stephanie Hume - North Vancouver, BC
Staff
1. Sally Bell, Head Coach
2. Laura Farres, Assistant Coach
3. Amy Hollingsworth, Manager/Video Technician
4. Terri-Lynn Fraser, Physiotherapist
Source: Field Hockey Canada
