By JIM BENDER -- Winnipeg Sun
 You'll never convince John MacKinnon that he shouldn't be blocking shots at the Sydney Olympics.

 An alternate goalkeeper for the national field hockey team, the Winnipegger was passed over in favour of a more experienced backup 'tender. And left at home.

 "It was a coach's decision, right?" MacKinnon said from Vancouver, where he continues to train. "Obviously, I'd love to be there. It's a killer.

 NOT MUCH OF A SURPRISE

 "But it wasn't that much of a surprise and I've had a month to get over it."

 Blaine MacKinnon, John's dad, suggested that it was a political decision, especially when the backup, Harry Kant, had been on probation because he failed to pass his fitness test.

 "John was kind of on the short end of it," he said from his Winnipeg office. "He was the fittest guy in training but he was also the junior guy. He was pretty upset (when he was left behind) but he understands the (political) game."

 John MacKinnon, 22, has been watching his teammates compete on TV.

 "At one point, it's disheartening because you feel like you should be there," he said. "But it's also your buddies out there and, just because you're not there, it doesn't mean they shouldn't get soaked in some glory."

 And he shared their frustration when they came so close to upsetting Germany, then lost 2-1 on a late goal on No. 1 goalkeeper Mike Mahood.

 "That was hard to see," said MacKinnon, who watched the game on a big screen at a Vancouver pub. "We should have attacked after we scored (to make it 1-0). But we held back and they came on."

 Meanwhile, MacKinnon believes he still has a bright future ahead of him, especially when field hockey goalies peak at age 26 to 28.

 "I feel that I should obviously be there (Australia) with Mahood," he said. "I feel we're both much better than anyone else in the country and I feel I'll get right back in there right after the Olympics are over."

 Aside from shooting for Olympic gold, Canada needs to finish in the top six in field hockey to qualify for the next World Cup.