Browne selected for elite squad

T&T’s English-based hockey standout Kwandwane Browne is the lone player from the English-speaking Caribbean selected to the Pan American Hockey Federation Men’s Elite Team. It is the third such honour for Browne, who was also voted to the inaugural team in 2007 and in 2009. During the Pan American Games, Browne scored four goals, two shy of joint T&T topscorers, Akim Toussaint and Christopher Scipio.

The Pan American Elite Teams have been named every two years to recognise the top players in the Pan American region and hockey specialists present at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara and at the 2011 Pan American Challenge in Rio de Janeiro were consulted for the selection of this year’s Elite Teams.

This year’s men’s team is led by Lucas Rey, captain of the Pan American champion Argentina. Argentina is also represented by three other players—Ignacio Bergner, Rodrigo Vila and Lucas Vila—while Pan American Games runner-up Canada is represented by Ken Pereira, Rob Short and Scott Tupper. Three players were also selected from bronze medalists Chile—goalkeeper Mathias Anwandter, Esteban Krainz and Martin Rodriguez.

Altogether, the 2011 Men’s Pan American Elite team is made up of players from seven different countries: Argentina (4), Canada (3), Chile (3), Cuba (2), Mexico (2), T&T (1) and the USA (1). Among the women, Barbadian Cher King, who helped her team to a last placed finish in the eight-team tournament is the lone English-speaking Caribbean player on a list which is led by Lauren Crandall, captain of the USA who defeated Argentina for the first time in the history of the Pan American Games. 

The USA is also represented by three other players (Rachel Dawson, Katie O’Donnell and goalkeeper Jaclyn Kintzer while Argentina is represented by Luciana Aymar, Soledad Garcia and Rosario Luchetti. Bronze medalists Chile had three players selected (Camila Caram, Manuela Urroz and Michelle Wilson. 

Uruguayan player Janine Stantley, although not playing in Guadalajara, was named to the Elite Team based on her excellent performance at the Pan American Challenge. Altogether, eight countries are represented in the 2011 Women’s Pan American Elite Team: Argentina (3), Barbados (1), Canada (2), Chile (3), Cuba (1), Mexico (1), Uruguay (1) and USA (4). Four women and eight men on this year’s teams were already named to the 2009 Pan American Elite Teams, with only Luciana Aymar,  Browne and Rob Short selected in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

On both Elite Teams, some young talents are starting to make their mark on the international scene, such as Martin Rodriguez (Chile, 21 years old), Francisco Aguilar Montoya (Mexico, 22), Manuela Urroz (Chile, 20) and Brienne Stairs (Canada, 21).