Tsawwassen's Andrew Kanvera helped Canada's junior men's field hockey team enjoy a successful South American tour as it prepares for this fall's Junior Pan American Championships.
The 17-year-old forward was a force up front throughout the trip as Canada rolled to an 8-1 record and captured a three nation tournament that also featured Argentina and Chile.
The tour provided a building block as the team of 20 athletes continues its preparations for the Junior Pan Americans in Guadalajara which will serve as a qualifier for the 2012 Junior World Cup.
Meanwhile, the outstanding female talent produced by the Delta Falcons Field Hockey Club will be on display this weekend as Canada's junior and U17 national teams participate in the USA/Canada Challenge at Rutledge Field.
The U21 junior squad will face the US U19 squad on Wednesday and Thursday at 2 p.m.
The series then concludes on the weekend with two more games slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The games are part of a 10-day training camp for Team Canada that began on Friday. The roster includes Tsawwassen's Sara McManus. The 18-year-old UBC student is already a full-time member of the senior women's national team and played for Canada at the recent Pan American Games and Olympic qualifying tournaments.
Not playing in the tournament but part of the junior national team program are Shannon Herold and Emma Mackie.
Herold enjoyed an impressive freshman season at Stanford University, while Mackie, a Grade 12 student at South Delta secondary, has earned a scholarship to continue her career at Providence University next fall.
"This is a great opportunity for our staff to analyze our depth and continue developing our system of play," says junior national team head coach Peter Milkovich. "The bonus of having a great training partner like the USA will ensure that we can maximize our game strategies and education in a very competitive environment."
Three up-and-coming Falcon players will be getting their first taste of international hockey as members of Canada's under 17 squad.
Cassidy Bremner, Krista Jensen and Cailean Meredith are members of the 18player squad who will play four games against the U.S. U17 team.
The series is the beginning of a four-year cycle for these athletes as Field Hockey Canada looks ahead to the 2017 Junior World Cup.
