IPOH – Rising hockey star Jude Nicholson, who is surrounded by senior players in his team, aims to leverage the valuable experiences gained at the Men’s Junior World Cup last year to help Canada put up a strong performance at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
Nicholson, 17, was part of the Canadian side that finished 16th in the Junior World Cup, where they conceded a total of 38 goals across six games.
Known as the “Red Caribou” by their fans, Canada have made three appearances in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (1995, 1999 and 2019) since its inception in 1983 and will be facing New Zealand in their opening clash at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh tomorrow.
Speaking to Scoop, Nicholson expressed his aspiration to improve upon his previous performances and help his team finish strong in this year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
“It’s an honour for me to be part of the senior team and represent my country. I’ve been to Malaysia before, and the weather is now hotter than ever.
“I believe I need more experience to reach the peak of my game and I need to always strive for victory by continuously improving myself every day.
“Although ice hockey is the top sport in my country, I chose field hockey for its more demanding physical aspects. Additionally, I enjoy travelling frequently while playing this sport.
“I’m still young and I’m learning from playing alongside all the senior players in the team. Through my valuable experiences, I hope to one day win an Olympic gold medal with Canada,” said Nicholson when met in Ipoh.
For the record, Canada have made eight appearances in the Olympics, six in the senior Men’s World Cup, and 15 in the Pan American Games, where they clinched the championship four times (1983, 1987, 1999 and 2007).
Meanwhile, Canada’s head coach, Patrick Tshutshani, said that his team was currently in a rebuilding process and aimed to become a formidable side in the years to come.
“We are pleased to be part of this wonderful tournament, and the squad is transitioning into a much younger group. We want to provide opportunities to all our young players.
“We’ve included several players from the Junior World Cup as we had many players who retired over the years.
“We’re rebuilding our team, and it will be interesting to see where we stand in the next five or six years,” said Tshutshani during a press conference at the M Roof Hotel in Ipoh.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will see a total of six teams participating: Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Korea and defending champions Malaysia. – May 4, 2024