Richmond's Chris McAlpine has been shortlisted to play for the Canadian U18 men's field hockey team at this summer's Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
Alpine is among 25 players named by Field Hockey Canada, following an extensive evaluation process. The team will be holding a national camp in Vancouver this summer, before nine players and three non-travelling reserves will be named.
The Games will feature Hockey 5s - a small-sided version of the game created by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for increased excitement and skill. Field Hockey Canada will be part of sporting history when Hockey 5's will make its major international debut at the Youth Olympics.
Canada's participation in the Youth Olympics was secured by two key components. The first was qualification through the Pan American Youth Hockey Championships, a mission successfully completed in Puerto Rico in February.
McAlpine, a forward, plays at the club level for India FNC.
"I am really encouraged by the make-up of the long-list squad," says Under-18 head coach Inderpal Sehmbi. "It bodes well for us heading in to our preparation to have athletes with competitive experience at an international level to handle the rigors of a multi-sport competition."
Over the last year, athletes from across the country were evaluated by provincial and national staff through their performance at nationals, various tryout and development camps, and at the 2014 Youth Pan American Championships where Canada won silver.
