By Arvind Katyal
In Canada, “hockey” always refers to and is synonymous with ice hockey. That’s not the case in most the world, where “hockey” usually means Canadians’ field hockey, a prominent sport in more than 50 countries across the globe.
While field hockey is never likely to eclipse ice hockey and claim the singular form of the name for itself in Canada, the game is starting to build a strong tradition in the great white north.
Fair-weathered British Columbia has always been the field hockey forerunner since the sport began its journey in Canada, followed decidedly by Ontario.
Similarly, on a smaller scale, Ottawa has traditionally played second fiddle well behind Toronto in Ontario, but a group of five players from the Nepean Nighthawks club have helped to make big changes on both those fronts.
Braedon Muldoon, 16, Dylan Singh, 15, Rohan Chopra, 16, Connor Baird, 15, and Marek Chopra, 14, competed for Team Ontario in August’s U16 national championships in Brampton.
Ontario Red won each of their preliminary round games minus a tie versus B.C. and then took the gold medal with a 1-0 victory in the rematch against their western foes in the tournament final.
The Nighthawks were a big part of Team Ontario, contributing more provincial team members than any other club in the province – a groundbreaking feat, notes Sandeep Chopra, a passionate former player cum guide cum coach cum backbone organizer for the sport in Ottawa.
“Five players from Nepean Nighthawks,” smiles the Nighthawks founder who started with 10 players in the club just four years ago and now has over 200. “It proves that Ottawa is becoming a real hub of field hockey in Ontario.”