Delhi, India - In the World Cup match against New Zealand, Ken Pereira and Rob Short, two veteran players on the Canadian Team, earned their 300th International Cap, an exceptional milestone reached by a limited number of players in international hockey. Only one other Canadian, Paul “Bubli” Chohan, has ever reached this landmark.
Ken and Rob’s careers with the national team began in 1994. Their exceptional longevity without interruption over 16 years, and the exact parallel of their career, makes it even more symbolic that they reach 300 Caps together.
Although they have both played for over fifteen years in countless international competitions, they show no signs of slowing down and are considered two of the world’s best midfielders. Rob was named to the 2009 International Hockey Federation All Star Team and both were named to the 2009 Pan American Elite Team. Their outstanding leadership and dedication to the game have raised the bar for the Canadian Team, and they serve as strong and inspiring role models to the squad’s developing players.
Ken and Rob currently play for HGC in Holland.
Highlights of their career with the national team include:
- Two Olympic Games (2000 in Sydney and 2008 in Beijing)
- Two World Cups (1998 in Utrecht and 2010 currently played in Delhi)
- Three Commonwealth Games (1998 in Kuala Lumpur, 2002 in Manchester and 2006 in Melbourne)
- Four Pan American Games (1995 in Mar de Plata, 1999 in Winnipeg, 2003 in Santo Domingo and 2007 in Rio de Janeiro)
- Three Pan American Cups (2000 in Cuba, 2004 in London, Ontario, and 2009 in Santiago, Chile).
While Ken is perhaps most famous for his winning goal against Argentina in the final of the 1999 Pan American Games to qualify Canada for the 2000 Olympic Games, other memorable moments for him are:
- Playing in front of huge crowds at the 1998 World Cup in Holland;
- Receiving tremendous support from friends and family at the opening match of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney against Pakistan;
- Winning the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio in a penalty shootout to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
- Represent Canada for a second time at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Some of Rob’s most memorable moments with the Canadian National Team include:
- Scoring 2 goals in the 1998 World Cup game in Utrecht against Germany in a 4-4 tie.
- Defeating Argentina to qualify for the 2000 Olympics at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg.
- Surprising the hockey community with unexpected victories at the 2007 Pan American Games and 2009 Pan American Cup to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 World Cup.
2009 Pan American Cup, Santiago, Chile - Rob Short and Ken Pereira
Picture Alex Masters
