Make no mistake, captain Nicholas Hoag’s impact goes far beyond his playing time with the Canadian volleyball team. Like its role, sport has evolved over the years and Quebecers continue to adapt in order to contribute to Canada’s success as the Paris Olympic Games approach.
The volleyball players were preparing to play a fourth and final match in Ottawa, where the Nations League was visiting, from June 4 to 9.
From the warm-up, Captain Hoag makes his presence felt by encouraging his teammates. A long-time starter, he is now mainly called upon to serve, while on the bench, he gives various advice during stoppage time and is very involved in strategies. At the end of the match, the Quebecer, like a good veteran, took the time to congratulate each of the Canadian players during their stretches, despite a 3-1 defeat against Serbia.
“It’s a bit of a different role than I’ve had since last summer. “It’s sharing my experience from the last two Games and bringing the guys back into the match to correct the little things, which are very important and which will make the difference in the end,” shared Nicholas Hoag with Sportcom, at TD Place arena.
He is the most experienced player in this group which qualified for the Paris Games last year. Stephen Maar, Lucas Van Berkel and Arthur Szwarc are the other three Canadians to compete at the Tokyo Games. Hoag is, however, the only player on the current team to have worn the colors of the maple leaf in Rio in 2016.
“I’m not getting any younger! There might be a little bit that hurts there, but that’s normal, that’s life! I stay ready to play, I maintain a certain level of play and I come into service when necessary to help the team. »
Last year, Nicholas Hoag suffered a torn left hip after the Nations League. A few weeks later, a similar injury occurred to his right hip before the start of the Olympic qualifying tournament. The veteran managed to “put his ego aside” and guide his team to Paris, despite having a limited presence in net.
“He’s not a guy who will talk a lot, but when he has something to say, we know that others will listen to him,” shared head coach Tuomas Sammelvuo, about his captain. He’s been in the program for so long, his experience can really help the kids progress. »
The Canadian team is now in the third week of activities in the Nations League. On Tuesday, she faced Japan and won 3-2 (25-21, 20-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-10), her fifth victory of the competition.
“It goes so fast on the field, whereas on the bench, I have another point of view and I see things that others don’t necessarily see,” explained the man who also scored two kills in the victory . A bit like his father, Glenn Hoag, who represented Canada at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, as an athlete, before returning there as a coach, in 2016 and 2021.
“I analyze all the time and that’s what I share with others. The coaches do a lot of work on the game plan and I can give little personal notes to certain players or remind them of certain things, as we have to do quickly in a short period of time. »
Stephen Maar led Canada in scoring with 24 points on Tuesday.
Canada, ranked seventh in the Nations League, will face Germany, Brazil and the Netherlands in the coming days. The top eight teams from the preliminary round will advance to the elimination round. Ideal preparation, according to Hoag, just weeks before the Olympic tournament.
