Scott Tupper, still just a “bright-eyed 22-year-old,” as described by Yvonne Zacharias of The Vancouver Sun, assumed captaincy of the Canadian Men’s Field Hockey team for games three to five of the 7 Test Super Series against India. Although the assignment was temporary, since regular captain Ken Pereira was not present, it was an affirmation of Tupper’s growth as a player and as a leader on the team.

Since the beginning of September, Tupper has been away from his hometown of Vancouver, B.C., playing and honing his skills with An Der Alster of the German Bundesliga, one of the world’s premier field hockey leagues. He and fellow Canadian national team member, Mark Pearson are playing in Germany together, and although their teammates back at UBC Field Hockey miss the way the duo terrorized the Hawks and Jokers of the Vancouver league, they both feel that their time is better spent learning from and playing against some of the best the world has to offer.

“Every weekend is like an international level game,” says Tupper. “You only play each team once, so it’s really important each week that you get the points. You really get used to putting it all on the line.”

This type of experience cannot be gained back in Canada, and in a few months it will be invaluable as the national team heads to the 2010 World Cup.

No stranger to the world stage, Tupper has played 85 international matches for Canada to date, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, an experience that has certainly helped him develop into the leader he is today.

“That experience is something I draw on, whether I’m wearing the arm band on the field or in day-to-day activities with the team,” he says. “It definitely motivated me a bit more to keep working hard because it made me want to get back to tournaments like that.”

Although he will not captain the team come March as veteran Pereira, a player with 291 caps to his name, will be back, Tupper feels privileged to assume the role whenever called upon.

“It’s obviously an honour to have something like this bestowed upon you, especially playing at home in front of family and friends. And it’s a fun team to try and lead,” he says.

Asked about if he feels the pressure of this added responsibility Tupper replied, “Maybe a little bit, especially as I’m getting on a bit more in games. There are some new guys coming in under me that are sort of looking towards me. But I think it’s good to put that pressure on yourself, where you have to both perform and to be a good example on and off the pitch in everything you do.”

With such a mature and grounded response, he seems more than ready for what’s expected of him, which is why his coach and teammates feel comfortable with him leading the squad.

As he continues to develop as a keystone of the team, journalists will continue to search for creative descriptions. Bright-eyed, crimson-haired, powerfully built – whatever words they choose, it is clear that Scott Tupper will be making headlines at the forefront of Canada’s burgeoning program for years to come.



Note: Tupper will be away for games six and seven of the 7 Test Series, but he will return for the games against the US National Team, beginning on October 27.

Photos by Neil Hodge

October 14, 2009

Game 3 of the 7 Test Super Series couldn’t come quickly enough for Team Canada, as they left Victoria feeling that they deserved better than their 0-2 record would indicate. The match started well, as Scott Tupper made an immediate impact in his first game back from Europe, scoring on the game’s first penalty corner, 2 minutes in. Unfortunately, the 1-0 lead would evaporate quickly as Canada dug themselves an enormous hole, falling down 4-1 by the 45th minute.

Despite the score line, Canada was not being outplayed on the field and they salvaged a broken penalty corner opportunity in the 66th minute, bringing the score to 4-2. Canadian goalkeeper, David Carter, after surrendering four penalty corner goals, sensed then that he needed to send a message in order to keep the momentum in his team’s favour, and he made an incredible stick side save on India’s fifth attempt in the 75th minute.

“He had already gone four for four on me and I wasn’t going to let him put a fifth one in,” said Carter of his save. “I had to make that save to keep the guys in the game.”

Buoyed by Carter’s effort, the team responded by dominating the last five minutes of the match. After creating a number of offensive chances already, also in his first game back from Europe, Mark Pearson finally broke through in the 78th minute, when he took a beautiful feed from Rob Short to bring the game to within one for Canada.

“Shorty set me up real nice with a nice pass across and I just touched it in,” said Pearson of the goal.

With Canada’s relentless attack and the hometown crowd going wild in the last minute of play, Scott Tupper lofted an aerial pass that would find the goalscorer, Pearson, once again down field.

“It was just a beautiful ball from Tupper over the top,” explained a still excited Pearson, “I picked it up on the backhand and then I just let it fly.”

Canada’s Captain Ken Pereira was adamant that his team never gave up, “A lot of people thought it was over except for us.”

Similar to Game 2, the third installment was not without controversy. This time India’s second goal, scored on a penalty corner, was originally signaled no goal by the umpire closest to the play. The ball appeared to hit the cross bar, bounce straight down, and never cross the line.

“I didn’t think it went in,” said goalkeeper, Carter, on the play. But after conferring, the referees reversed their decision.

After the match, Canada’s video technician Aaron Guest reviewed the play, pronouncing, “It was a goal.”

Although Canada held the advantage in penalty corners with six to India’s five, India was superior on the set plays on Wednesday.

“They’ve got a great corner, one of the best ones in the world, and they sure use it,” said veteran Rob Short, speaking of Sandeep Singh’s 4 for 5 effort.

“With a guy like Sandeep, we can’t really be doing that,” said Tupper, agreeing that five was too many opportunities to give the potent India side.

Canada’s Head Coach Alan Brahmst felt his keeper could have been better on the plays, saying, “Our goaltending was sub-par on corners.”

Veteran Rob Short, playing in his 291st international match for Canada was not satisfied with the final outcome: “This was a game, like the last game, that I think we should have won. We just didn’t score on our chances, and India finished their chances.” Canada scored goals on two of their six penalty corner opportunities.

Brahmst was more positive on the final result: “I think this was a very important game for us. Although it was only a point, we finally got [one] so we’re on the board, and we’ll be ready to go for Game 4.”

Game 4 will take place on Friday evening, again at 6 p.m. in Surrey.


Scoring Summary:

CAN – Tupper, Scott; PC; (2’); 0-1
IND – Singh, Sandeep; PC; (9’); 1-1
IND – Singh, Sandeep; PC; (18’); 2-1
IND – Singh, Sandeep; PC; (31’); 3-1
IND – Singh, Sandeep; PC; (45’); 4-1
CAN – Short, Rob; PC; (66’); 4-2
CAN – Pearson, Mark; (68’); 4-3
CAN – Pearson, Mark; (70’); 4-4

Penalty Corner Chances: CAN 6 – IND 5

Report by Omar Rawji