Two physicians from the Sunshine Coast in BC, have returned home after taking part in a gruelling football/soccer competition, which saw six matches played over seven days at the Maroochydore football club on the Sunshine Coast in Australia.
Dr. Ted Krickan and Dr. Paul Dhillon, both family physicians in Sechelt, were joined on the team by Dr. Randy Hewgill, an anesthetist at Lion’s Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. The three physicians made the cut to join the Canadian Medical Football Team during the February selection weekend in California, which also saw players chosen for the US Medical Soccer Team. The competition was also the first time Canada’s Women’s Medical Soccer Team participated in an international event.
“It was an incredible opportunity to reconnect with some of my international physician colleagues and to also help the team on their way to their best international record after six years of participating in this competition,” Dhillon told the Coast Reporter in an email.
Matches were played against South Korea, Costa Rica, Ireland, Australia and Mexico. After a challenging first match against Mexico, Canada rallied and beat South Korea before losing the last group stage match against Costa Rica in penalty shots. But the team rallied and won two of their three remaining matches.
Krickan says he was proud to be representing Canada in the tournament.
“As a first-time physician playing for Canada at this competition, I felt honoured to be representing my country and playing a sport that I love in such a large international event,” says Krickan. “The whole environment, from the matches against other countries, to the conference, to the setting in Australia, and especially the incredible sense of support and camaraderie amongst our team made it an experience of a lifetime.”
Kricken scored one goal in the team’s fourth match, which was against Costa Rica, while Dhillon picked up an injury in that same game and was unable to play in the last two matches.
But the trip to Australia wasn’t all just fun and games. Krickan and Dhillon also had the opportunity to participate in the 28th International Symposium on Sport and Medicine, where they gained invaluable knowledge they'll be able to put to practical use back home on the Coast.
