Oak Bay High grad and former UVic Vikes player James Kirkpatrick was named to the Canadian men’s field hockey roster.
The team is set to compete for 2016 Olympic qualification at the World League semifinals in Buenos Aires, Argentina from June 3 to 14.
Of the 18 athletes named to the touring roster, 17 were a part of the men’s national team that finished third at World League Round 2 in San Diego, Calif. in March.
The World League semifinal is an Olympic qualifying event from which the top three finishers of the 10 teams competing earn spots at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
With its win against Russia and the third-place finish at World League 2, Canada ensured two opportunities to qualify for the 2016 Olympics; the first being a top-three finish at the semifinals, the second by winning the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto this summer.
In Buenos Aires in June, Canada is grouped with Austria, Germany, Spain and host Argentina in Pool B. Pool A consists of Egypt, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
Canada’s first match at the World League semifinals is June 3 against Spain at 6 p.m. local time. Canada’s full schedule and results are available at the Field Hockey Canada website.
The World League team will train in Toronto at the new Pan Am Fields May 27 to 29 before heading to Argentina.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
