![Varsity Blues' Thick & Woodcroft named to represent Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games](/sports/fh/2014-15/photos/varsity-blues-fh-panam.jpg)
Varsity Blues' Thick & Woodcroft named to represent Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games
University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey players Alex Thicke and Amanda Woodcroft have been named among the 16 players that will represent Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games, July 10-26, in Toronto.
University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey players Alex Thicke and Amanda Woodcroft have been named among the 16 players that will represent Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games, July 10-26, in Toronto.
Thicke, who completed her fifth and final season with the Varsity Blues this past fall, was named an OUA all-star, CIS all-Canadian and CIS tournament all-star in helping the Blues to their third provincial title in the past four years and a second-place finish on the national stage.
Woodcroft earned OUA and CIS player of the year honours in 2014 after ranking sixth in the OUA scoring race this season with seven goals in 12 league games. The former CIS rookie of the year has been voted an OUA all-star in each of her four campaigns and is also a three-time all-Canadian (2011, 2012, 2014).
The Pan American Games field hockey competition, which will be held at the new Pan Am Fields at the University of Toronto, serves as an official Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifying tournament, with both the men's and women's winners earning a spot at the Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next summer.
The Women's National Team, currently 20th in the field hockey world ranking, enters the tournament as the third-ranked team, behind world number three Argentina and world number five the United States. The Canadian women begin competition on July 13 against the Dominican Republic, concluding July 24.
Women's National Team:
First | Last | Position | Hometown | Caps |
Thea | Culley* | Forward | Rossland, BC | 127 |
Kate | Gillis** | Midfielder | Kingston, ON | 124 |
Hannah | Haughn | Forward | North Vancouver, BC | 83 |
Danielle | Hennig* | Defender | Kelowna, BC | 88 |
Karli | Johansen | Defender | North Vancouver, BC | 37 |
Shanlee | Johnston | Defender | Vancouver, BC | 20 |
Sara | McManus | Defender | Tsawwassen, BC | 77 |
Stephanie | Norlander | Forward | North Vancouver, BC | 17 |
Abigail | Raye | Defender | Kelowna, BC | 124 |
Maddie | Secco | Midfielder | Victoria, BC | 51 |
Natalie | Sourisseau | Midfielder | Kelowna, BC | 67 |
Brienne | Stairs | Forward | Kitchener, ON | 69 |
Holly | Stewart | Forward | North Vancouver, BC | 29 |
Alex | Thicke | Midfielder | North Vancouver, BC | 8 |
Kaitlyn | Williams | Goalkeeper | Surrey, BC | 56 |
Amanda | Woodcroft | Midfielder | Waterloo, ON | 20 |
*Vice-Captain
**Captain
Coaching and Support Staff:
Position | First | Last | Hometown |
Assistant Coach | Stephanie | Andrews | Perth, Australia |
Athletic Therapist | Michelle | Meckling | Kelowna, BC |
Team Doctor | Dr. Navin | Prasad | Vancouver, BC |
Head Coach | Ian | Rutledge | Orange, Australia |
Video Analyst | Stefanie | Sloboda | Winnipeg, MB |
Team Manager | Carrie | Trumpy | Victoria, BC |
Physiotherapist | Elliot | Usher | Vancouver, BC |
Prior to being named to the final Canadian Pan American Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee's Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations towards the end of June 2015.
Source: Toronto Varsity Blues