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Field Hockey Canada
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| October 6: Casey Ferguson | October 7: Graeme Sowerby | October 8: Jai Takhar | ||
| October 9: Rajbir Sonny Kahlon | October 10: Patrick Persaud | October 11: Aneal Basi | ||
| October 12: Michael Lee | October 13: Inderjit Singh Bath | October 14: Jeff Pacheco | ||
| October 15: Tim Pershick | October 17: Inderpal Sehmbi | October 19: Ravi Kahlon | ||
| October 21: Ravi Kahlon |
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Hi Everyone! Today we played the US for third and the last spot for the World cup.
The US are always a threat ever since Shiv Jagday has taken over the coaching job. We
won the game 4-1. We did not play our best but we did the job.
Today we played Argentina and you all must already know the score. I am having a tough time writing this message because it is hard to explain to all of of you the feeling of this loss... There are about 15 of you at home that will understand what we just went through: two and a half years just went by in 70 mins.
We were down by one goal at half time and in the middle of the second half they got a penalty stroke on a terrible call from the umpire. Then we pushed up for the goal and we opened up in the back field. It´s hard to say it but we were beaten by a better team.
So many emotions right know, its hard to explain. I am proud because the guys never did give up, even when it was clear that the game was over. The team never gave up. Everyone played with a lot of heart! The bottom line is, I wouldn´t trade this for the world and all those ferry rides during two and half years were worth it! I am gonna miss it all very much!
We were told today that number 2 and 3 teams might be going to the World Cup as well. Lets hope so!
It is hard to put into the words what happened today... It was the big pool match versus Chile to decide the placings in our pool. We knew going into the match that we had to win to get first place and that a tie would not help us. The staff did an awesome job preparing us and we were ready to go.
The atmosphere was electric, 500 Chilean fans and our three supporters (Tyler´s Mom and Dad + Ricardo). We came out gun´s a blazin´. We went up early on a goal from Casey Ferguson, then scored on an option on a penalty corner via Aneal Basi. We went into the half up 2-0!
In the second half the momentum shifted. The Chileans made some adjustments and scored on penalty corner. They soon followed with a second, a reverse stick shot from the top of the circle. We were in their half for the last fifteen minutes of the game but could not find the back of the net... The final horn went and the stadium errupted, Chilean people and flags all over the field.
The boys were upset and disappointed. But we soon realized that this is only one game and we have another chance to get to the Final. Our goal was to win this tournament and we knew that we would have to beat Argentina to do it. Now we have that chance, although it is a little earlier then we had anticipated!
Oh yeah, Wil Haering went to the beach and got a sun burned. Funny Times.
Sunday, Trinidad & Tobago. The day started early... around 8´ish, which I find early. The team was well focused on the game ahead, there was little fooling around on this emotional day. It was our last day to prepare and work out the kinks before we face Chile.
We started the game going full out and we striked first with a goal by Scott. Then, minutes after, Aneal put one in. Then, in the second half, things started to loosen up and Tim scored two, Graeme one and Inderjit one. The final score (for those who have trouble crunching numbers) was 6-0. The coaches were well impressed and were very happy with the forwards for once.
During the night, the team inrolled in a furious game of ping pong which was organized By Sunny "Don King" Kahlon. The highlight of the night, however, was Indy´s diving shot while sliding under a table and knocking a pitcher of coke onto himself... but in the process he saved the pitcher from breaking!
Anyways, the night went smoothly and we are well rested for the next practice.
Today was a slow day in order for our bodies to get to 100%... We started the day off with a jog, then the breakfast, the same breakfast since day one! We had a couple of team meetings and then off to the field where we had a solid practice and watched the Chilean team play. It should be a very high paced game with them!
After the game, the team had a chance to see some of Chile and only Tyler, Tim and I went to see downtown while others came back to the hotel and relaxed... (same old... same old...)
We had another one of our great meetings and then off to bed!
Sat Sri Akal --- (Hello)
The day started with a 9.00am breakfast. Everybody was happy to sleep in after having to wake up every day at 6.30 in the morning. After the breakfast, everybody was free until lunch. During the break, some guys decided to play a little ping pong... it got pretty competive! Though it was my first time playing, I managed to beat everybody, including Louis (just kidding...)
Next thing on our agenda was to watch the Argentina and Barbados game.
After the game, we had a training session with Neetu. In the training session, we did weight training and some "light running". After the training session, we couldn't wait to eat dinner! After the dinner, we had a quick team meeting then we had the night to ourselves.
Well, Thursday started off a lot better than the few previous days. Just about everybody was over the 48 hours of hell ( still not knowing the exact cause...). After an 8:00am breakfast, the morning was filled with team meetings diagramming our strategy for the upcoming game against Venezuela. With a little lunch in our stomachs we were off to the field.
The game started off well, the opposition did exactly what we were told they would do. However, our fast start came to an abrupt halt: after carrying the play for the first 10 minutes we found ourselves down a goal... Well, we would have none of that! Canada stormed down the field, Scott gave Tim the ball who left his check dizzy from all the dodges, then as the goalie came to challenge he slipped the ball to Scott who hammered it home. This goal was quickly followed by some amazing work from Sunny who got his shot deflected by Casey, giving us the lead. From there we kept up the pressure with loads of chances, but were only able to convert once: a short corner worked to perfection, leaving Casey with a lovely deflection just inside the post.
After some rousing speeches from the coaching staff (!!!), we took the field and never looked back. Graeme started it off with a pass from Aneal. On the base line, with no angle, the goalie nowhere to be seen, Graeme found the twine. Rav then started to have his way with the Venezuelans, beating two men and slipping the back hand pass to young buck (aka Jai bird) for the brilliant finish. Rav followed this by beating just about everybody in sight and finding the Victoria connection with Aneal hitting it home. From a long corner, Casey beat three and strolled to the front of the net to flip it in. Our eigth goal, believe it or not Matt, was a drag flick by yours truly to the top right! Rav then finished his afternoon off in style, passing to Casey who got, yes, his fourth goal of the game! Then, the defensemen turned left winger Graeme Sowerby, making an amazing give and go play with Jai, was absolutly mugged and awarded a stroke. Faking right and putting the ball bottom left, the goalie stood no chance. Final score: Canada won 10-1.
The defense showed good patience and gave some great balls into the mid-field to break the zone. This done by the combination of Graeme, Indy, Tyler and Jeff.
Also in a side note. With Aneal Basi having a little time out after receiving a yellow card, the team seemed to score a lot more goals with him off than on!!!
Our defensive coach Lou (Mendonca) says nobody listens, just like his daughters!!!
We now have two days off to prepare for Trinidad and Tobago. More updates to come!
Hola!
Well the day started off with a tragedy: nine of our players came down with food poisoning, but no names will be mentioned. With only two thirds of the team at breakfast, the coachs had their work cut out for them. But, as always, the canadian staff quickly came up with a new game plan and starting 11.
The first game for us was against Peurto Rico. It was a very ugly game but we took home the 3 points with a 5-0 win. The goal scorers were Tim, Sunny, Aneal, Rav and the young buck himself Jai.
With this marking, Jai´s first international goal, he screamed so lound that I think his brother Pandy must have heard him back home! But the team goose today was Inderjit Bath who only missed 20 chances from about 3 yards away...
Tomorrow we take on Venezuela and Inderjit should be ready to put away his shots, he said it's due to not having any "roti".
Only one more day till our first match of the tournament. It´s been a long haul for many of the players here, and tomorrow most of our dreams are going to become a reality.
The team had an early start at 6:30am, with a brisk walk in chilly conditions. This was followed by breakfast and a practice at 9:00am. Our coaches decided to let us have some fun, since it was our last practice before our first game of the tournament. So, in practice we scrimmaged and we all had to play positions we did not usually play, with Ravi playing centre forward and Casey playing centre back!
Later that day, we had a team meeting where we were given our playing uniforms. Wow, the uniforms look amazing!
The day ended with the team watching "The Waterboy".
Hola, como estas?
The day started off with a 6:30 breakfast. Then we head to the field for a 3 hour practice session and then a 20 minute running session with Neetu threetwo. A quick shower at the field and off we go the club house for some lunch, consisting of steak and potatoes for Thanksgiving.
We had the rest of the day off to do whatever we pleased. Most of the boys took it easy in the hotel rooms and watched TV. After the break we headed off to the club house again for some dinner at 6:00pm. The day ended off with a 8:00pm team meeting.
Was-up y´all,
Well, today we had a practice game vs. the USA, the game went well and we finished with a 3-1 victory. With this game marking my fist international game with the junior team vs. another country, I have to say the game is fast pace and very skilled at this level. The two people that scored our goals were Aneal Basi with two goals and Casey Ferguson with another. The coaches were pleased with the effort but are expecting us to get better and better each game because the rest of the senior guys were saying that we played alright but it could have been much better!
Hello from Chile!
The day started with a 6:30am team breakfast at the hotel. We then got ready for our 9:00 o´clock match against a club team from Chile. The game started slow, with both teams trying to get a feel for each other. Unfortunetly they got a luck break by capitalizing on a defensive break by our whole team and ended the first half with a one to nothing lead...
Frustrated and ready for revenge, we came out blazing in the second half and litterally ran them into the ground, the sad part is for all the work we put into that, we only manage to score one goal and had to settle for a draw.
After the game, instead of warming down, Neetu put us through a light workout (in his words!). With hockey and training out of the way for the morning, it had been decided by the staff to give us a half day to ourselves; some people went to the mall and the rest rested at the hotel, myself included.
The evening include a meal, meetings and physio treatments for those of us that needed them. Now that it´s the end of the day, the focus has been shifted to our next warm-up match versus the USA. This should a good!
First off, Indi Sehmbi oppalogizes for not being able to call his parents - he´s very busy and there´s no phone to call them (sure Indi, there are two in the lobby!). Anyway, today was our first full day here in Santiago, everyone is still tired from the flights down here but looking forward to the tournament.
Today we were up at 7:00am for breakfast at the hotel and then we were off to our practice at 9:00. All of our other meals are at the clubhouse at the turf. The team is getting used to the air over here, Santiago is at a higher altitude than what we´re used to back home(I´m not sure what the exact elevation is). We left the turf after lunch then went back at 4:00pm for our second practice. The team had dinner at the clubhouse and then we came back to the hotel around 7:00pm.
It was a long day but we are happy to be here and feeling good about the challenge ahead of us.
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