Field Hockey Canada brings family ties to Beijing

(BEIJING, July 12) -- Anthony and Philip Wright won't just be bringing brotherhood to Beijing when they compete for Canada on the Canadian Olympic Hockey team, they also bring family history. The Wright brothers' mother, father and paternal grandfather have all competed in previous Olympics games.

The Wright brothers aren't the only siblings on the team. It was confirmed this week that brotehrs Rob and Peter Short have also been nominated by Field Hockey Canada and head coach Louis Mendonca to compete in Beijing, Worldhockey.org reports.

Rob Short is the most experienced player on the 18-man roster and will be team captain. He is joined by a handful of first-time Olympians, including Wayne Fernandes who said that "qualifying for Beijing is the achievement of a lifetime."

Canada did not qualify for the Olympic Hockey tournament in 2004, which makes Beijing the culmination of seven years of preparation, said Paul Wettlaufer, a team veteran. "I was at the Olympics in 2000 and had a great experience," he said, "but I want to appreciate the seven years that it took us to rebuild and get to the point where we are at now…all of that experience."

The team has finished their first training camp in Vancouver and will train in Victoria July 17-23 before departing for Singapore on July 27. They will arrive in Beijing on August 4 and play their first match August 12.

The athletes nominated by Field Hockey Canada are:

Ranjeev Deol, Wayne Fernandes, Connor Grimes, Ravi Kahlon, Bindi Kullar, Mike Mahood, Mark Pearson, Ken Pereira, Scott Sandison, Marian Schole, Peter Short, Rob Short, Sukhwinder Singh, Scott Tupper, Paul Wettlaufer and Anthony Wright.

Reserves:

Philip Wright, David Carter.