• Barker and Poland share first caps (fieldhockey.ca)

Field hockey junior Kaela Barker and sophomore Crystal Poland are currently competing on the Canadian National Field Hockey team, earning their first "caps" last week in a series with India in Surrey, British Columbia. The pair, who grew up playing field hockey and often competed against each other, were featured in a story on fieldhockey.ca, the official website of Field Hockey Canada.

A "cap" is awarded for an appearance in an official match between National Senior A teams, sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation or the national associations involved, and played in accordance with the International Hockey Federation regulations (normal time, maximum 16 players, etc.).

In the pair's first match, Poland notched two assists although Canada fell to India 3-2. In the second match, Barker picked up an assist as the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw. Neither Husky earned a point in Canada's 4-1 loss in match three or 2-2 tie in match four.

Barker and Poland are two of 16 returning letterwinners from last season's Huskies squad that finished 9-9. Barker was second-team All-CAA and first-team NFHCA All-Northeast Region in 2009 and CAA Rookie of the Year in 2008. Poland was CAA Rookie of the Year and first-team All-CAA in 2009.