News and Announcements

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On Wednesday, July 6, Field Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced the 16 athletes bound for Rio to represent the Canadian men’s field hockey team. As part of their road to the Rio Olympic games the men’s national team will be coming to the Victoria to host a field hockey clinic for all ages. Come meet and learn from our Olympians!

WHEN: Thursday, July 14
WHERE: UVic Field Hockey Turf
TIME: 6:00-7:00 PM
WHO: Open to all ages and both genders (GKs come with gear)
SUGGESTED DONATION: $20
BRING: Stick, shin guards and mouth guards

The clinic will be run by Canada’s Olympic team. All proceeds support their #RoadtoRio
See attached poster.

CANADA’S OLYMPIC SCHEDULE
Aug. 6 vs Germany
Aug 8 vs Argentina
Aug 9 vs Netherlands
Aug 11 vs Ireland
Aug 12 vs India

For more on Canada’s national team visit www.fieldhockey.ca

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On May 29 the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame announced it’s 2016 class of inductees who will be honoured at a gala on October 29 at the Westin Bear Mountain. Among the nine inductees is field hockey’s Nancy Mollenhauer, a long-time Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association player and former University of Victoria Vike and Canadian national team player.

A member of the Canadian Women’s National Field Hockey dynasty team of the eighties, Nancy Mollenhauer was an integral part Canada’s ongoing international success. She competed in two Olympic Games (1984 and 1988), two World Cups (1983 and 1986), and at the 1987 Pan-American Games at which she was named Canada’s flag bearer. Nancy won a silver and bronze medal at the 1983 and 1986 World Cups respectively.

Nancy will join Canadian triathlon legend Simon Whitefield, basketball great Gerald Kazanowski, soccer’s Simon Keith, as well as Kent Manderville, Mike Spracklen, Randy Bennett (deceased), Bob Moffatt and John and Marilyn Bate for the Class of 2016.

For more information visit http://www.gvshof.ca/news/240-2016-inductees-announced.html

For those interested in attending the event: a table of 10 is $1,000 and individual tickets are $110. with a $50. tax receipt issued. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.gvshof.ca. Click on “Events”, then click on “Induction Dinner” to register and pay online.

REBELS FIELD HOCKEY CLUB ANNOUNCE SUMMER DROP IN DETAILS

WHAT: Mixed 7-aside Games
WHO: Men & Women
WHEN: Thursdays (June 30-August 25, 2016)
TIME: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
WHERE: UVIC Water-based Turf
COST: $5.00/Session or $30 for all 9 sessions

Everyone that shows up will be split up into 2-3 games:
- Competitive Game
- Social Game
- Family Friendly Game
Kids are welcome in the family friendly game, but must have a supervising adult present at all times.

Full kit is required (shin guards & mouth guard). Also, please try to bring a light and a dark shirt to easily split the teams up for the games. For insurance purposes, everyone needs to either be an actively registered member with Field Hockey BC or sign a waiver before playing. If you can bring your Field Hockey BC number to put on the sign-in sheet, that would be extremely helpful.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Jim Knight and Chris Dahl will be running most of the sessions, so questions can be directed to them, or email at: rebelsfieldhockey@gmail.com

A reminder that Tuesday night drop-in will be held by Sailors Field Hockey Club (Details Below)

WHAT: Mixed 7-aside Games
WHO: Men & Women (Min. age 14)*
WHEN: Tuesdays (July 5 – August 30, 2016
TIME: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
WHERE: UVIC Water-based Turf
COST: $5.00/Session

*Players must be registered and insured actively with Field Hockey BC
Contact: Ronnie Lee (leeronnie19@gmail.com)

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YOU’RE INVITED!

The Westerly Tournament is being held on September 10 and 11, 2016.

The format is the same as last year with accommodations at Crown Isle and dinner (which is not included in the registration fees) on the Saturday at Crown Isle Pub/Restaurant at a set menu. If your team has special dietary needs, please let the organizers know ASAP so that they can accommodate your needs.

Registration fees are due August 1, 2016.

Please send cheques payable to the Comox Valley Field Hockey League, 2311 Yorkshire Place, Courtenay, B. C. V9N 4A2

Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 10, 11
Location: Vanier Turf Field
Cost: $300
Ages: 19 years and above (Division Three players)
Umpires: Teams are to provide their own
Social on Saturday: Dinner will be an additional cost, aiming for a sit down dinner at the Crown Isle Pub/Restaurant. If your team has special dietary needs, please let us know ASAP so that we could accommodate them.

More Information: Contact Sandy Poirier (sandipoirier@icloud.com)

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With the 2016 Rio Olympics around the corner the world’s eyes are focused in on high performance athletes fine tuning their skills and preparing for the biggest sporting event. Alongside the thousands of athletes and teams preparing are the many, many officials that help ensure the sport is conducted in a fair and safe environment.

Though the Rio Olympics are not in the sights of Canadian field hockey umpire Tyler Klenk, there is still lots of time for the 23-year-old to check a visit to the most prestigious games off his bucket list. Recently Klenk officiated his first international appointment at the Toronto-hosted Junior Men’s Pan American Championships, May 23-28.

“The experience was fantastic,” exclaimed Klenk. “Being that it was my first international appointment, it was a great opportunity to ‘get my feet wet’ so to speak.”

“It was also fantastic that I was able to do my first international competition on home soil. It was great to see Canadian Field Hockey rally behind the whole tournament.”

Junior World Cup qualification was on the line for the eight teams participating and while the Under-21 athletes were busy getting in the right mindset for their young international careers, Klenk was just beginning his show on the world stage.

Having umpired since the age of 14, Klenk has had several years of experience blowing the whistle but it wasn’t until he relocated to British Columbia that he started to take things more seriously. Moving to Vancouver Island to attend the University of Victoria and play for the school’s varsity team placed him in one of the biggest hockey hotbeds in Canada. Along with playing in the Vancouver men’s premier league, Klenk was also a junior national team identified athlete giving him a slight advantage when he does trade in his stick for a whistle.

“Playing at such a high level previous to umpiring gives me the ability see situations from the perspective of the players,” said Klenk, who banked five international games in Toronto. “It also helps me to anticipate the play before it happens. As the speed of the game is also increasing, this anticipation is very important for me to be in better position.”

Klenk’s first appointment was in round-robin play between Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago and from there he finished the tournament umpiring the bronze medal game between Chile and the USA. Klenk’s performance will see his current National rating improve to his international badge. From there the ladder gets steeper with fewer international officials moving on to later qualify for the Promising Umpires List, FIH Grade 1 Umpire, World Development Panel and the World Panel, the latter of which include most of the officials that go to the Olympics.

For now, Klenk can look back on his first international event as a success and the first step on his pathway to being a stand out umpire for Canada.

“The one thing I will take away from the Toronto event is the speed of the international game,” noted Klenk. “Players are becoming more and more skillful and this requires umpires to be on top of their game as well. I really became aware of the importance of using domestic matches to work on all of the areas I need to improve. That way, when I get another international appointment, I will hopefully be on top of my game.”

Prior to this Klenk has banked several major Canadian tournaments including multiple national championships, BC premier men’s games, BC provincial championships, Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championships, Canada West matches as well as the 2015 Canada Cup and 2015 California Cup. Klenk was also named the 2015 Canada West Umpire of the Year following a strong season in the University scene.

Klenk’s umpire development continues both in Vancouver and Victoria and he credits two local officials for helping guide him to where he is now.

“The two most influential people in my umpiring career so far are Chris Wilson and Denise McGeachy,” highlights Klenk of Victoria-based Wilson, a former FIH umpire and current umpire manager, and McGeachy, a Nationally-ranked umpire. “They have both pushed me to improve myself by taking on more and more challenging games. They have helped me develop my skills while helping to identify the areas that I need to improve. I think most importantly; they have not tried to change the kind of umpire I am. Instead, they help make my skill set shine.”

Inevitably Klenk’s skill set will continue to develop and shine upon his return to the West coast and although Klenk may be forced to watch the Rio Olympics from his TV this August, it seems likely that one day the country will be able to watch him on the Olympic stage in years to come.

Story by Ali Lee
Photo: Yan Huckendubler (PAHF)