The national anthem is 'O Canada' but Coquitlam's Sydney Veljacic was singing a different -- albeit very similar -- tune heading into this week.
"Go Canada!"
That was the Gleneagle secondary school student's last line in her email response to questions heading into the USA-Canada Challenge Under-17 field hockey series at Rutledge Field in West Vancouver.
Things didn't start so well for Veljacic and her fellow Tri-City teammates Samantha McIlwrick and Paige Hamilton as their Canadian squad was bounced 2-0 by the Americans in the first of their four contests Wednesday. However, the Canadians rebounded nicely to win Game 2 by a 4-2 count Thursday.
Game 3 was slated fornoon Saturday, with the series' finale set for 9 a.m. Sunday.
"I think our main goal for the series would be to end each game with a positive outcome but, ultimately, just be proud of how we played as a team and how we've represented our country," said Veljacic, who was named B.C. U-16 Player of Year last year. "Playing in the series definitely ranks high among my field hockey career path thus far. I am very excited that I have the opportunity to represent my country. I feel honoured to have been chosen for this squad."
McIlwrick, a 16-year-old Port Moody secondary student who also serves as umpire in the sport, agreed with Veljacic, saying toiling in the series is the thrill of her lifetime thus far.
"This is a great opportunity for me to compete, I'm super excited to compete," said McIlwrick, who organized the 2011 Game for a Cure last November featuring Tri-City high school players versus women's club members in support of the BC Cancer Foundation. "Playing for Canada at the Under-17 national level in field hockey is the highest level of competition I have yet played.
"My future goals are to continue playing at the highest level that I can, including university."
Veljacic has battled against U.S. competition in the past and entered the series knowing pretty much what to expect from the always-aggressive Americans.
"I think there's going to be some good competition," Veljacic said. "I've played in tournaments in the states before and normally the U.S. teams plays a strong and physical-type of game."
McIlwrick agreed the Canadians will have be at the top of their game in order to challenge their spry North American rivals.
"I am expecting some very competitive games and we will have to work hard as a team to be successful," she said.
Veljacic, McIlwrick and Hamilton are among 26 players on Canada's U17 team roster at the Challenge, which also features a series involving Canada's U21 unit versus the Americans' U19 squad.
