News and Announcements

Please join us on Sunday, July 5th between 2 and 4pm at 4543 Torquay Drive to celebrate the life of Shirley Holloway (1938-2015)

Dr. Shirley Anne Holloway lived her life and pursued her goals according to the T.S. Eliot maxim: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” Born in Nottingham, England, she left to see the rest of the world as a graduate pharmacist and chemical technologist. She continued to study as she came to Canada, moved to the USA and then back to England. Upon returning to Canada she completed her PhD in cell biology at York University. She worked as a college science instructor before becoming Dean of Technology, Science and Trades at George Brown College in Toronto (the first woman to hold such a position in North America). She moved to Victoria to become the Dean of Trades and Technology at Camosun College, and then to Edmonton as Vice-President Academic and Student Services at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. While pursuing a rewarding career for herself, she raised three very active sons, lovingly guiding them into adulthood. She was also an excellent athlete, participating in a variety of competitive sports throughout her life. Her involvement in field hockey took her to places such as Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands and Argentina where she would have as much fun off the field as on. Nearing age 70, she decided she would like to try playing goalie in ice hockey, which she continued doing up until a few days before she passed away on Friday, June 19, 2015, at the age of 77. The daughter of Ronald and Phyllis Pugsley is survived by her brother, Tony Pugsley, sister, Joy Salsbury, sons, Andy, Phil (Tess) and Russ (Teresa), and grandchildren, Themis, Caitlin and Brooke. She leaves us far too soon. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation in her honour to Operation Trackshoes at trackshoes.ca

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The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Field Hockey Canada have announced the sixteen women who have been selected to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26 in Toronto, Ontario.

Oak Bay High graduate and former Lynx 1 midfielder Maddie Secco is the lone islander to represent Canada at the upcoming home games. With 60 caps to her name the current Stanford University student-athlete will join her team mates in their last shot at Olympic qualification. Secco will also join former Vikes players Thea Culley, Danielle Hennig and Kaitlyn Williams.

Culley is the highest capped active player (136), while Hennig will celebrate her 100th cap during the games as she is currently at 97. Former Canada West goalkeeper of the year Williams boasts 60 international caps and will back the team in net.

The Pan American Games field hockey competition, which will be held at the new Pan Am Fields at the University of Toronto, serves as an official 2016 Olympic Games qualifying tournament, with both the men’s and women’s winner earning a spot at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next summer.

“We’ve played a number of the top teams in the world of the last two years, now it’s the last opportunity we have to qualify for the 2016 Olympics,” says Women’s National Team Head Coach Ian Rutledge. “The team we’ve picked represents the best sixteen players in the country at this time for us achieve that goal.”

The Canadian roster is led by captain Kate Gillis, who is from Kingston, Ontario, and vice-captains Thea Culley (Rossland, BC) and Danielle Hennig (Kelowna, BC). Culley is the Canadian women’s active cap leader with 136 senior matches to her name.

“To play for Canada on home soil is something I have been looking forward to ever since Toronto was named as host for the 2015 Pan American Games,” says Gillis, who is from Kingston, Ontario, and is one of three Eastern Canadian athletes named to the team. “Wearing the maple leaf on your chest and representing your country is an indescribable feeling of pride.”

“To be able to share that with our family and friends of a home crowd dawning the red and white, with an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics, will be an unforgettable experience.”

The Women’s National, currently twentieth in the field hockey world ranking, enters the tournament as the third ranked team, behind Argentina (World No.3) and the United States (World No.5). The Canadian women begin competition on July 13th against the Dominican Republic. .

The Canadian women last medaled in 1999 in Winnipeg, the last time a Pan American Games was held in Canada.

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with more than 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.

ROSTER – WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

*ROSTER – WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

Name Position Hometown Senior Caps*

Abigail Raye Defender Kelowna, BC 133
Alex Thicke Midfielder Vancouver, BC 16
Amanda Woodcroft Midfielder Waterloo, ON 29
Brienne Stairs Forward Kitchener, ON 78
Danielle Hennig* Defender Kelowna, BC 97
Hannah Haughn Forward North Vancouver, BC 92
Holly Stewart Forward North Vancouver, BC 29
Kaitlyn Williams Goalkeeper White Rock, BC 64
Karli Johansen Defender North Vancouver, BC 46
Kate Gillis** Midfielder Kingston, ON 133
Maddie Secco Midfielder Victoria, BC 60
Natalie Sourisseau Midfielder Kelowna, BC 76
Sara McManus Defender Tsawwassen, BC 86
Shanlee Johnston Defender Vancouver, BC 29
Stephanie Norlander Forward North Vancouver, BC 26
Thea Culley* Forward Rossland, BC 136
Vice-Captain
*
Captain

STAFF – WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
Head Coach – Ian Rutledge (Orange, WSA, Australia)
Assistant Coach – Stephanie Andrews (Perth, WA, Australia)
Team Manager – Carrie Trumpy (Victoria, BC)
Video Analyst – Stefanie Sloboda (Winnipeg, MB)
Physiotherapist – Elliot Usher (Vancouver, BC)
Athletic Therapist – Michelle Meckling (Kelowna, BC)
Team Doctor – Dr. Navin Prasad (Vancouver, BC)

For your interest:

Please read below the recent memo from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) clarifying the rules around defending a free hit when inside the defending circle.

“All players other than the player taking the free hit should be at least 5 metres from the ball. If a player is within 5 metres of the ball, they must not interfere with the taking of the free hit or must not play or attempt to play the ball. If this player is not playing the ball, attempting to play the ball or influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed.

A player within 5 metres of the ball at the taking of the free hit is not allowed to engage with play prior to the ball having travelled at least 5 metres.

However, at a free hit the ball cannot enter the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres if the same player continues to play the ball or it has been touched by another player of either team. Defenders who are inside the circle within 5 metres of the free hit are therefore not interfering with play and may also shadow around the inside of the circle a player who takes a self-pass, provided that they do not play or attempt to play the ball or influence play until it has either travelled at least 5 metres or alternatively has been touched by another player of either team who can legitimately play the ball.

Players inside the circle who were 5 metres or more from the point of the free hit are not allowed to move and remain in a ‘set’ position within 5 metres of the ball when the free hit is taken."

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Field Hockey Canada has officially unveiled a new national initiative for hockey players over the age of thirty-five. The newly minted “Canada Masters Hockey” property will see National Masters sides competing in major International events as early as the Fall of 2015.

The Canada Masters Hockey initiative supports Field Hockey Canada’s strategic objective of developing and strengthening field hockey across the country and fostering a robust Canadian hockey family. Engaging Master level athletes, the Canada Masters Hockey program will provide field hockey players of all ages the opportunity to continue participation in the sport at an international level.

“Canada Masters Hockey is a crucial link in engaging our field hockey community across the country,” says Field Hockey Canada President Ian Baggott. “This initiative will encourage this influential segment of our population to continue to support, play and enjoy this wonderful sport.”

The first competition in which the Masters team will represent Canada is planned for September 2015 in Tucumán, Argentina. Teams from around the world will gather to compete in the Pan American Masters event, created with support from the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

A steering committee of Baggott, longstanding contributor to Field Hockey Canada from Ontario Ed Fernandez, Field Hockey Canada Chief Executive Jeff Sauvé, Vancouver resident and former Olympian John McBryde, and two former Women’s National Team and FHC Hall of Fame inaugural inductees, Nancy Mollenhauer and Sharon Creelman, will oversee the initial development of Canada Masters Hockey.

For athletes who are interested in being involved with future tours and to be added to the distribution list, please email Ian Baggott (ian@baggott.ca).

Source: Field Hockey Canada (Shaheed Devji)

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Summer Drop in is around the corner! The Sailors Field Hockey club will be hosting their annual summer drop-in sessions, open to men and women (age 14+) for pick-up games.

Host: Sailors Field Hockey Club
When: Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m.
Dates: July 7 – August 25, 2015
Where; University of Victoria (Field 1) Artificial Water-based Turf
Cost: $5.00 cash per session

For more information please contact Ronnie Lee (leeronnie19@gmail.com)