VANCOUVER – Six UBC Thunderbirds men's field hockey players will represent Canada at the 2013 Junior World Cup, to be played in New Delhi, India Dec. 6-15. The competition will be contested in Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, a landmark location in downtown Delhi, which hosted many top-level international competitions such as the 2010 World Cup, 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Qualifiers.

The six T-Birds heading to India are: Tristan Burgoyne, Spencer Curran, Taylor Curran, Gordon Johnston, Oliver Scholfield and Paul Wharton.
 
Taylor Curran, Scholfield and Wharton were also recently honoured as Academic All-Canadians.

Canada qualified for this competition by reaching the Final of the 2011 Pan American Junior Championship in Guadalajara, Mexico. It is the first time that the Canadian Team qualifies for the marquis event of the junior calendar since 2001 in Hobart, Australia.

Team Canada will compete in Pool C, against The Netherlands, a powerhouse on the international hockey scene in all categories and finalist of the last Junior World Cup in Malaysia, against Korea, 7th of the last Junior World Cup, and against host India, always a force when playing at home.

Canada will open their competition on Friday, Dec. 6 at noon against Korea, then will play India on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. and will finish pool play against The Netherlands on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m..

After a rest day, cross-over and classification matches will be decided by the standings in the four pools. The competition will end on Sunday, Dec. 15.

Head coach Paul Bundy has assembled a strong team, with sixteen players from British Columbia and three from Ontario. The roster will be trimmed to eighteen players at a later date, with only two of the three selected goalkeepers making the trip.

"We have a good blend of youth and experience", says Bundy. "Eight players participated in the junior continental qualification two years ago, and have already seen action with the senior National Team. At the other end of the age spectrum, some of the younger players will still be eligible for the next Junior World Cup in four year."

Taylor Curran is the most experienced player with 48 senior International Caps, including the 2010 World Cup, also in New Delhi.  

"The group has trained hard since March," continues Bundy. "Many training sessions were common with the senior squad, and the athletes were regulars in the gym all summer. It is a very committed group, juggling training with studies, work and fundraising activities."

- with files from Field Hockey Canada