VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds will begin 2013 field hockey season as the team with the biggest target on their back.
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Last year, UBC won the McCrae Cup – the trophy awarded to the national champions – for the second time in a row and the 14th time in 38 seasons. Just about everyone from that championship-winning squad is back for another run at the CIS banner.
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"Last year is last year. That is in the history books. It doesn't guarantee anything," said UBC head coach Hash Kanjee, who is entering his 21st season at the helm of the Thunderbirds.
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"I remind our players all the time about, 'process, process, process.' If we ever go on to the 'outcome' page, I think we'll be in very big trouble. The challenge will be to keep everybody task oriented and focused on getting a little bit better every day."
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Players returning from last year's roster include the reigning Canada West Player of the Year
Kate Gillis and the CIS Rookie of the Year and Championship Most Valuable Player
Hannah Haughn. Both forwards scored seven goals in 2012 to lead the Canada West conference.
Cassandra Tayler was right behind them with six. An interesting addition up front is Masters student
Sophie Huijskens, a native of The Netherlands.
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The UBC midfield pool is deep with internationally experienced players like
Natalie Sourisseau and
Poonam Sandhu working alongside fifth-year seniors
Katie Jameson and
Caitlin Evans.
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Anchoring the defence are fifth-year senior and second team All-Canadian
Miranda Mann,
Rachel Donohoe and
Sara McManus, whose hat trick in the CIS championship game against Toronto gave the Thunderbirds the 2012 national title.
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Bea Francisco will once again guard the UBC net. She was one of six Thunderbirds who suited up for a Canadian team that finished 14th at the Junior World Cup in Germany over the summer.
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"One of the key goals this season is going to be to try and reach the potential of the players we have," said Kanjee. "On paper, it's a very talented side. Trying to get all that talent pointed in the right direction, I think, is going to be the biggest challenge for us this year."
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In all, nine Thunderbirds have earned caps with the Canadian national team and six, Gillis, Haughn, Johnston, McManus, Raye and Sourisseau, will miss part of the 2013 season to play for their country at the Pan American Cup Sept. 21-28 in Mendoza, Argentina. That event serves as the qualifier for the World Cup of field hockey.
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"Losing players midway through the season for two weeks is going to be challenging in that 'team cohesiveness and team morale will be difficult to establish and maintain," remarked Kanjee.
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UBC will open its eight-game Canada West regular season this weekend at home on Wright Field against the Calgary Dinos. The matches will take place Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
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The Thunderbirds will visit Victoria (Sept. 28-29) and Calgary (Oct. 5-6) before concluding the regular season with another two games, this time at home, against Victoria (Oct. 19-20), which will also host the CIS championship starting Oct. 31.
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