Three uncapped players have been named in Bermuda’s final squad of 18 for the Women’s Pan American Challenge, a hockey tournament to be played on these shores at the end of this month.

Macy Aicardi, 23, Robin Stempel, 21, and Grace Lightowler, the youngest player at the age of 16, are the uncapped players that got the nod for the final selection.

From the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games qualifying tournament held on the island, first-choice goalkeeper Christina Stephens, Jessica Hollis, LaKae Tavares, Georgia Harris, Mallory Towlson, Elizabeth Stewart, Jennifer Chisnall, Alyssa De Silva and Amy Harper, have been retained.ac

Harper makes a return to the team after missing out on last year’s CAC Games in Dominican Republic, where Bermuda finished eighth.

Coach Kovin Moodley was forced to make adjustments to the team, as eight players who were part of the CAC Games were unavailable.

Maha Clarke, Lauren Cardwell, Jasmine Patterson, Emily Chadderton, Isabel Roe, Keishae Robinson, Lelya Ganal and Juliet Ferrari-McComb were not under consideration for selection.

Moodley and his technical team have been busy trying to get the players ready for the tournament. As part of the preparations, the side had a fitness session with netball coaches, Anthony Mouchette and Kimale Evans at the Bernard Park Netball Courts.

In the Pan Am Challenge scheduled for the National Sports Centre from September 21 to 28, Bermuda will meet Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Brazil and Guyana.

Following the withdrawal of Jamaica due to funding issues, the event has been reduced to a one-pool competition.

The tournament will serve as one of qualification pathways for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, with the top two teams to advance. Mexico were one of the sides at last year’s Pan Am Games in Chile, where they finished eighth, which means Bermuda are in for a tough opening day assignment.