T&T national Under-21 men’s hockey squad, led by goalkeeper Kwasi Emmanuel, will be underdogs when they come up against ten-time reigning champions Argentina in the curtain raiser of the 2016 Junior Pan American Hockey Championship at the University of Toronto, Canada, today from 10 am.
Four years ago in Guadalajara, Mexico when both countries faced off in round-robin Pool A play as well, Argentina ran out comfortable 9-0 victors over the Richard Quan Chan-coached T&T squad which featured three players who are in the current team inclusive of captain Kwasi, England-based Tariq Marcano and vice-captain Jordan Reynos.
Following today’s match, T&T which has never finished higher than fifth in the previous ten editions of the competition, will meet Puerto Rico and USA, while,Guyana, Chile, Canada and Mexico are in Pool B of the eight-team tournament which will qualify one team to the Junior World Cupto be held in India in December, later this year.
Emmanuel (Kwasi) of Malvern will have a lot of family support within team as his two younger siblings, Kieron and Kristien also made the final squad along with fellow Malvern players, Marcano-siblings, Teague and England-based Tariq, Jovan Wren and Lyndell Byer.
The local squad under the supervision of coach and current senior team captain, Darren Cowie will next face Puerto Rico tomorrow and the USA on Monday both from 10 am as well.
At the end of the round-robin phase all the teams will move onto the quarterfinals with the Pool B teams ahead of the winners and losers draw semifinals, and final day playoffs.
More info
Team: Zachary Clarke, Jordan Reynos (vice-captain), Keegan Dos Santos, Che Modeste, Dylan Francis, Jordan Vieira, Kristien Eammanuel, Jarryon Paul, Jovan Wren, Tariq Marcano, Teague Marcano, Cheon Steele (GK), Marcus Pascal. Kieron Eammanuel, Kwasi Emmanuel (captain/GK), Kelon Skerritt, Jabari Perez, Lyndell Byer.
Technical staff: Darren Cowie (coach), Akim Toussaint (assistant coach), Natakii Akii-Bua (team manager), Jameel Beharry (stand-in manager), Karielle De Bique (physiotherapist)
Tournament schedule
Today
Pool A:
• Argentina vs T&T, 10 am
• USA vs Puerto Rico, 12.30 pm
Pool B:
• Chile vs Guyana, 3 pm
• Canada vs Mexico, 5.30 pm
Tomorrow
Pool A:
• T&T vs Puerto Rico, 10 am
• USA vs Argentina, 12.30 pm
Pool B:
• Mexico vs Guyana, 3 pm
• Chile vs Canada, 5.30 pm
Monday
Pool A:
• Argentina vs Puerto Rico, 10 am
• T&T vs USA, 12.30 pm
Pool B:
• Mexico vs Chile, 3 pm
Guyana vs Canada, 5.30 pm
Wednesday: Quarterfinals
May 27: Winners & Losers Semifinals
May 28: Final day playoffs