Indoor USMNT Coaches Narrow Squad for IPAC Selections
by USA Field Hockey

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team Head Coach Jason Mulder and the coaching staff have narrowed the selection squad to help name the team to compete at the men’s 2021 Indoor Pan American Cup (IPAC). Taking place June 25 to 27 at The Training Center in Spring City, Pa., the IPAC is a men’s and women’s event that will be played in a round-robin format with no crossovers, only classification matches, and is a qualifier for the 2022 Indoor Hockey World Cup.
“This year’s selection process was a challenging one due to COVID-19,” commented Mulder. “We, as a staff, had to pivot on more than one occasion. In the end, I believe we have selected a very competitive squad. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all players and staff who made tryouts possible. We now look forward to our final IPAC preparation phase.”
Of the narrowed squad, four athletes have previously participated in the IPAC. Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.) competed in four editions, including the very first one in 2002. Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills. Calif.) and JaJa Kentwell (Spring City, Pa.) were both rostered in 2014. Six athletes named are also on the senior outdoor program with another two on the junior outdoor squads.
2021 IPAC U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team Training Squad:
James Albanese (Mercerville, N.J.), Brett Andrews (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Shomik Chakraborty (Washington, D.C.), Christian DeAngelis (Doylestown, Pa.), Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Calif.), Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.), Vincent Heller (Stuttgart, Germany), Colin Hennessy (Marlborough, Mass.), Aki Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), JaJa Kentwell (Spring City, Pa.), Jonathan Klages (Berlin, Germany), Barry Merriman (Washington, D.C.), Izaak Pels (Spring City, Pa.), Nicholas Richardson (Sunapee, N.H.)
The final 12-athlete IPAC roster will be selected amongst these players prior to the event.
Making up the men’s competition is Trinidad and Tobago (ranked 12th in the world), Canada (15th), Argentina (20th) and USA (42nd).
DATE | TIME | MATCH | TEAM | TEAM | |
Friday, June 25 | 9:20 AM | M1 | Trinidad & Tobago | vs | Argentina |
10:40 AM | M2 | Canada | vs | USA | |
3:00 PM | M3 | Canada | vs | Trinidad & Tobago | |
4:20 PM | M4 | Argentina | vs | USA | |
Saturday, June 26 | 10:20 AM | M5 | Trinidad & Tobago | vs | USA |
11:40 AM | M6 | Argentina | vs | Canada | |
4:00 PM | M7 | 1st RR | vs | 4th RR | |
5:20 PM | M8 | 2nd RR | vs | 3rd RR | |
Sunday, June 27 | 4:40 PM | M9 | Loser 7 | vs | Loser 8 |
8:00 PM | M10 | Winner 7 | vs | Winner 8 |
While the last men’s IPAC took place in 2017, the U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team last competed in 2014 in Montevideo, Uruguay where they fell to Canada 4-2 in the gold medal match, narrowly missing Indoor Hockey World Cup qualification. They also competed in 2002 (2nd), 2004 (2nd), 2005 (3rd) and 2008 (1st).
With both indoor programs being fully self-funded, a fundraiser has been set up to help bridge the costs prior to and during the 2021 IPAC. The 2-week, online fundraiser ‘Fans in the Stands’ through Varsity Graphics is in support of both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Indoor Teams. Since there will be no spectators allowed in attendance for this international event, fans are encouraged to support the teams ‘in-person’ by purchasing a fan cutout sign. Show team pride by submitting a picture of yourself decked out in USA gear and your purchased sign will be displayed in the bleachers. All proceeds from this ‘Fan in the Stands’ Fundraiser will go to the indoor programs. The deadline to purchase is Sunday, June 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank Osaka for their sponsorship of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Indoor Team programs, as well as the United States Men’s Field Hockey Foundation for their generous and continued support of the indoor program.
For more information visit the Indoor Pan American Cups event page.
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