VANCOUVER – After a very successful 2008-09 campaign, highlighted by a one-loss season and a near miss of being crowned champions of the prestigious King's Tournament (hosted by professional team Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain), the UBC Thunderbirds men's field hockey team looks to further improve and strengthen their reputation as being the top club in North America.
This season's team will have a different look after the departure of Olympians Mark Pearson and Scott Tupper as well as National Team and long-time UBC Thunderbird David Jameson to teams in the German Bundesliga. A solid freshman class will help support the core group of seniors led by National Team members Richard Hildreth, Philip Wright, Benjamin Martin, Jesse Watson, Marian Schole, Hudson Stewart and goalkeeper Antoni Kindler. University of Victoria transfer Connor Meakin brings both strength and depth to the midfield and forward lines and should have an immediate impact with the squad.
After an unbeaten pre-season campaign, the team looks poised to uphold the successful tradition that has become associated with field hockey at UBC. Team goals and ambitions have been placed at an all-time high and the group looks ready to deliver. A number of UBC players are working hard to be selected for Canada's World Cup team.
Coach Shiaz Virjee started pre-season workouts in late August, continued trials in early September with the core roster having now been chosen for the Premier Team. The JV Team is also fielding a strong group of athletes who continue to improve and challenge the Premier Team athletes as the season gets underway.
Roster
- Antoni Kindler
- Cam Munsie
- Benjamin Martin
- Connor Meakin
- Jesse Watson
- Thomas Gerhardt
- Simon Beckett
- Hudson Stewart
- Richard Hildreth
- Marian Schole
- Stephen Bissett
- John Smythe
- Chris Robertson
- Niels Wolfhagen
- Arif Virjee
- Sean Fleming
- Philip Wright
- Bruce Currie
- Matthew Bissett
- Philip Edgcumbe
Coach: Shiaz Virjee
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