Canada Learn Pre-OQT Opponents, To Host Group

One day after finishing in second place to the USA in the AmeriCup, Canada's women's team have learned who they will be facing in the Americas round for a place in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The somewhat laborious path to Tokyo will first see teams from respective regions playing in an initial qualifying tournament, the winners of which will then advance to one of the four final Olympic qualifying events.

The draw for the Pre-Qualifying Tournaments were held in Puerto Rico. There were three good pieces of news for Canada: first, they can count on plenty of home support as Edmonton will be playing as host to their group. Second, they have two shots at making the next stage - as the USA, playing in the other group, have already qualified for the Olympics, only one spot has been allocated in their group.

The last good news is that they would appear to have the easier of the two groups. Eight of the best teams in the AmeriCup have been given a spot in the tournament, and Group A will see Canada face Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, the other group sees USA, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia together - containing three of the region's highest-ranked teams, this would appear to be the tougher group. The fact that just one team can qualify for the next round should make competition in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, more heated.

Canada's group opponents are nothing to be sniffed at either, though. Cuba are a dependable side never to be taken lightly and Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic have been showing steady signs of improvement in recent times.

The Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be played next February at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.