VANCOUVER – With another exciting season beginning on Saturday, Sept. 14, the UBC Thunderbirds men's field hockey team is ready with a versatile squad of athletes.

Three players, Keegan Pereira, Taylor Curran and Spencer Curran, represented Canada in the Pan American Cup in August and won the silver medal – losing in a closely contested match against arch rival Argentina. A further nine athletes are in training to be selected for the Junior National Team that will be competing in the World Cup in India in December 2013. The athletes are: Tristan Burgoyne (Goalie), Paul Wharton, Gordon Johnston, Lachlan Glen, Oliver Scholfield, Taylor Curran, Spencer Curran. Andrew Kanerva and Navi Purewal.
 
Hudson Stewart is a returning veteran national team player and will provide strong leadership to the team together with Arif Virjee, who is returning from a rigorous season of playing hockey in the top league in Perth, Australia. Notable new recruits include Australian Andrew Thomas and Niklas Kaden from Germany. These experienced athletes will add to the quality of the team.
 
UBC had a very strong performance at the Club De Polo – Kings Tournament in Barcelona, Spain in January 2013. This is a very competitive event featuring the Spanish and European Club championship teams. UBC was included as the one of the premier teams in North America to compete against the European teams. Pereira was voted as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
 
The team anticipates some challenges with the demands of the training schedules as players athletes compete for spots on the Junior National Team for the upcoming World Cup. Appropriate adjustments will be made in training and matches to reduce overuse injuries.

After a solid pre-season campaign – including the UBC Invitational Classic, 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.

Head 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 Junior Varsity Team is also fielding a strong group of athletes who continue to improve and challenge the Premier Team athletes as the season gets underway. The JV Team won the Premier "B" division last season.