Field Hockey Canada has announced the roster that will don the Maple Leaf from April 10 to 18 at the Junior Pan American Championships in Bridgetown, Barbados. Joining the squad for the first time is a Whistler Secondary School alum: Duncan Ross.
Originally from Vancouver, Ross first took up field hockey at age seven because he was looking for a team sport to play in the springtime. Also an avid skier who balanced both sports for much of his life, Ross moved to Whistler in high school to pursue alpine ski racing, yet ultimately committed to field hockey after graduation.
His choice paid off. Ross was one of 18 men who made the cut out of a pool of 32 athletes from four provinces who, last December, were invited to winter selection camp in Greater Vancouver. Now, he is about to represent his country.
“I’m really excited to play my first series for Canada. It’s a really big milestone to hit,” said Ross, who plays defence. “I’m looking forward to playing all the other nations at Junior Pan Ams.”
“This is an exciting group of athletes,” remarked Canadian head coach Geoff Matthews in a press release. “The athletic ability of the squad will allow us to play an exciting ‘forward’ brand of hockey that mirrors that of the senior men’s national team.”
For Ross, field hockey is a bit of a family affair. His older sister, Julia, made the women’s national roster in 2021 and won gold at that year’s Junior Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile. As a result, Julia and her teammates qualified for the 2022 Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Likewise, Ross hopes that a Junior World Cup berth is in his future. First, he and his team will need to perform well in Barbados—not to mention stay healthy.
“I’m nervous and excited,” he said. “There’s a lot of ups and downs that come from playing at a high level. A few days ago, I got a ball right above my eye and had to spend the night in the emergency room getting stitches. It was a huge relief when I learned that it wouldn’t interfere with competing.”
Now 18 years old, Ross is a first-year engineering student at the University of British Columbia. Post-secondary education has been an adjustment, but he remains committed to being the best student-athlete he can be.
“I am having to balance keeping up with school and studying for all my final exams while being at the tournament,” the Whistlerite said.
Most of Ross’ junior national peers are first-timers, like him, though a few are more seasoned. Alex Bird of Quebec and Jyoth Sidhu of B.C. will be counted on to lead, as both are returning athletes who have also made appearances for Team Canada’s senior roster. Two others, Maan Sidhu and Julius D’Souza, have prior Junior World Cup experience.
According to their coach, expectations are high.
“We are going to play an exciting style of hockey that gives us the best opportunity to win every game,” Matthews said. “It will be challenging, and we will need to be at our best for each game to do that. Being successful and winning a medal at [the Junior Pan Ams], will allow us to qualify for the Junior World Cup in Malaysia [this winter]. That is our ultimate goal.”
The full roster for the Junior Pan American Championships can be found at fieldhockey.ca.
