VICTORIA – The University of Victoria continues its traditionally strong presence on the Canadian women's national field hockey team, with three current Vikes named to the upcoming Junior World Cup roster.

Stefanie Sajko, Nora Struchtrup and Libby Hogg will represent the Vikes as members of the Canadian Junior Women's National Field Hockey team travelling to Potchefstroom, South Africa, for the Junior World Cup from December 5-16. 

"We're extremely proud of Stef, Nora, and Libby for being selected to the team that will be participating in the Junior World Cup. They've been training exceptionally well, and all of them played a major role in helping our team capture the 2021 Canada West field hockey title," said Lynne Beecroft, women's field hockey head coach.

When asked what advice she has for the athletes, Beecroft, a former Olympian, said "to believe in themselves, and their teammates. To work hard every time that they're on the field; and to take away the learnings, whether from victories or defeats, so that they can be role models for their UVic teammates when they return."

Team Canada is coming off an all-time high, winning the Junior Pan American Championships in August, qualifying as the top team from the Pan Americas. They join Pan Am counterparts in Argentina, USA and Uruguay.

Both Sajko and Struchtrup were members of the Junior Pan Am gold medal squad, along with 2021 Canada West Player of the Year, Anna Mollenhauer. Mollenhauer has aged-out of the junior ranks and will join the senior women's national team at their Chula Vista Training Tour in San Diego, CA, later this month.

Hogg trained as a reserve with the Junior women's team last summer but is among a set of new faces adding depth and skill to the Canadian side.

"I was surprised to get selected to the team because there are a lot of great players across Canada, and there were only a handful of players who were on the Pan Am team who are not eligible to play in the World Cup, said Hogg.

"This tournament will be my first official international competition, and I'm extremely excited and honoured to have been selected to represent Canada."

The Oak Bay High School product joined the Vikes during the competition-less 2020 season but has made an immediate impact in her rookie year, earning 2021 Canada West All-star honours.

"Playing this season with the Vikes has been incredible, everything I imagined and more. Not only is the team just so amazing, but the standard of hockey is very high. Training sessions and games are challenging physically and technically, but they are always enjoyable. I think this season has prepared me well for this opportunity by demanding a lot from me on the field and off," she said.

The team plans to arrive in South Africa in advance of the tournament. Stay tuned to Field Hockey Canada's social media and website for more information in the lead-up to the Women's and Men's Junior World Cup.

Follow Field Hockey Canada on Twitter and fieldhockey.ca, as well as the Pan American Hockey Federation channels for tournament updates.