The election took place at last month's Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, with more than 200 international athletes from 29 countries casting their votes in the Canadian city to decide their representatives.

Four athletes were chosen to represent the views of current hockey players throughout the region and during their four-year term, they will attempt to ensure that decisions made are in the best interests of both the athletes and the sport.

Macarena Rodriguez, who was part of the Argentina women’s team which earned the silver medal in Toronto, was one of the four athletes elected to the panel, having earned the respect of many of her peers during a career which has seen her win four Champions Trophy golds, World Cup gold and bronze, and an Olympic silver medal.

"I'm very happy being able to be part of this PAHF Committee," said Rodriguez, who has been capped 180 times by her country.

"I hope we can convey all the concerns of the players and work together to continue to improve our sport."

The Argentinian is set to be joined by the United States’ Keli Smith-Puzo, who earned golds at two World Cups, the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games, before retiring from the sport two years ago.

Two men have also been elected to the Commission including 38-year-old Kwandwane Browne, who has 300 caps for Trinidad and Tobago and has played a key role in the sport’s development in his country.

Injury prevented Browne from participating at the Games in Toronto, but he will bring huge experience to the Commission as he is part of the national elite coaching team for both England and Britain, where he has always plied his trade on the field for club teams.

Cuba’s Yoandy Blanco is the final new member of the Commission, with the 36-year-old striker having represented his country at four Pan American Games from the 2003 edition at Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, until the latest edition where the team came eighth.

Following their elections, which the PAHF believes shows they hold the respect and admiration of their fellow players, they will join the existing members of the Commission which includes its chair and former Canada international Scott Sandison.

Guyana’s Tricia Fiedtkou and Chile’s Pablo Kuhlenthal are the other existing members having previously been appointed, while Brazil’s Julio F Neves currently serves as its secretary.



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