News and Announcements

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VICTORIA, B.C. – As the winter months continue to drop the temperature the University of Victoria Vikes women’s field hockey team are hosting the annual UVic Indoor Tournament at the McKinnon Gymnasium Jan. 23-24.

The seven-team indoor tournament is the only one of its kind in Victoria as the adapted, indoor version of the game is significantly less popular in Western Canada. With thinner sticks, six players on the floor per team, side boards to keep the ball in play and no hitting, this version of hockey is high scoring, fast paced and more than just entertaining. A strong focus on technical speed and skill puts good teams ahead of others and while the indoor sport is a growing game in North America, the Vikes have always integrated it into their training.

Unlike past years, the Vikes will be entering just one team into the tournament, while local teams the Island Wildcats, the Islanders, Shawnigan and the Valley Vixens will also make a reappearance. Mainland teams traveling to compete include recent CIS champions, the UBC Thunderbirds, as well Vancouver premier league members, West Vancouver.

The Vikes are coming off a recent win at the Hawks Indoor Tournament, Jan. 9-10, where fourth-year forward Amanda Kurianowicz was the tournament MVP and the Vikes’ top goal scorer. The Vikes will also boast Larissa Piva in net as well as the strengths of defender Annie Walters-Shumka and fellow island natives Stefanie Langkammer, Jenna Dhillon, Lizzie Yates and Kristina Walters-Shumka.

The Wildcats will feature local young talents from recent AAA provincial championship-winning Cowichan High Robin Fleming and Brittany Smith, while ex-Vikes Kyla Kirby, Cara Jay and Sandy Zinkowski will suit up along side youngsters Clarie Church and Stefanie Sajko. The Islanders team will be under the leadership of Olympian Nancy Mollenhauer as well as former Vike Emily Fisher and a group of Lynx Club members Nicole Gaul, Cara Butler, Natalie Boraston and Anna Mollenhauer. The Valley Vixens will feature a mix of Cowichan players, while experienced line ups will be expected from UBC and West Vancouver.

The indoor game is often a more entertaining version for spectators as there are more goals, it is faster and it is held inside. Games are two 25-minute halves and admission is free.

A combination of up-and-coming youth as well as several ex-internationals and elite players will compete this weekend for the annual title.

2016 UVIC INDOOR TOURNAMENT

Pool A: Wildcats, Valley Vixens, UBC
Pool B: UVic, Shawnigan, West Van, Islanders

Saturday, January 23
10:00 am UVic vs Shawnigan
11:00 am Wildcats vs Valley Vixens
12:00 pm Islanders vs West Van
1:00 pm Wildcats vs UBC
2:00 pm UVic vs West Van
3:00 pm Shawnigan vs Islanders
4:00 pm UBC vs Valley Vixens
5:00 pm UVic vs Islanders
6:00 pm Shawnigan vs West Van

Sunday, January 24
8:00 am 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B
9:00 am 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B
10:00 am 2nd Pool A vs 1st Pool B
11:00 am 3rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B (5th/6th)
12:00 pm Loser of 9am Game vs Loser of 10 am Game (3rd/4th)
1:00 pm Winner of 8am Game vs Winner of 9am Game (Final)
1:45 pm Presentation of Championship Trophy

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FHBC is proud to announce the creation of a new financial assistance award within the Field Hockey BC Foundation. Created as a legacy fund in recognition of Pat Hall’s 50 years of service and support to field hockey in Canada, and especially to the development of field hockey on Vancouver Island, the ‘Pat Hall Officials Development Award’ will enable financial assistance in the promotion and development of Officiating for the Vancouver Island field hockey community.

The FHBC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Field Hockey BC, providing financial assistance and support to athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and event hosts. If you are considering a charitable donation with tax relief benefits for 2015, perhaps the FHBC Foundation could be a beneficiary. More information including an on-line donation portal can be accessed via www.fhbcfoundation.com.

The Pat Hall Officials Development Award is designed to promote the development of Vancouver Island umpires and technical officials with preference given to members of the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association (VILFHA), the Vancouver Island Field Hockey Association (VIFHA), and the Victoria Junior Field Hockey Association (VJFHA).

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Vancouver, BC – Canada’s Women’s National Field Hockey Program has named its National Team and development squad rosters for the upcoming 2016 competition period.

In total, 53 athletes have been named to three squads: the Women’s National Team (WNT), Senior Development Squad (SDS), and Junior Development Squad (JDS). Of the 53 athletes eight athletes from Vancouver Island have been selected to one of the squads.

Each of the 12 athletes named to the Women’s National Team competed at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto where the Canadian women won bronze this past summer.

The National Team is led by veterans Thea Culley (Rossland, BC), Kate Gillis (Kingston, ON), Danielle Hennig (Kelowna, BC), and Abigail Raye (Kelowna, BC), who combine for more than 520 senior international matches played for Canada.

From the island, Maddie Secco, a graduate of Oak Bay High School and former Lynx 1 club member, is the only Victoria native on the WNT. Two islanders were named to the SDS including current Victoria Vikes and former Lynx 1 club members Kathleen Leahy and Rosie Beale. Leahy is a graduate of Oak Bay High School, while Beale is a graduate of Claremont Secondary.

The Senior Development Squad includes a group of athletes who have a wealth of experience and also competed at the 2015 Pan Am Games, including Shanlee Johnston (Vancouver, BC), Holly Stewart (North Vancouver, BC), and Amanda Woodcroft (Waterloo, ON).

All senior athletes will centralize and train full-time in Vancouver in the New Year. Joining the full-time National Training Centre for the first time is a group of seven JDS athletes who will centralize with the senior athletes.

Of the JDS there are five island athletes named to the team including Victoria’s Lexi De Armond (Lynx 1 and Mount Douglas Secondary), Lindsay Cole (Lynx 1 and Mount Douglas Secondary), as well as St. Michael’s University School’s Anna Mollenhauer (Lynx 1). Cowichan High School goalkeeper Robin Fleming (Flickers) and defender Sara Goodman (Flickers) were also named to the team, while De Armond is the only Junior squad member named to the centralized JDS squad.

The centralized JDS also comprises of athletes with senior experience, including Priya Randhawa (Surrey, BC) and Lauren Logush (Richmond Hill, ON).

In total, 33 athletes from across the country are named to the Junior Development Squad.

2016 Women’s National Team
Name Position Hometown Caps

Abigail Raye Defender Kelowna, BC 139
Brienne Stairs Midfielder Kitchener, ON 84
Danielle Hennig Defender Kelowna, BC 103
Hannah Haughn Forward North Vancouver, BC 98
Kaitlyn Williams Goalkeeper White Rock, BC 70
Karli Johansen Defender North Vancouver, BC 52
Kate Gillis Forward Kingston, ON 139
Madeline Secco Midfielder Victoria, BC 66
Natalie Sourisseau Midfielder Kelowna, BC 82
Sara McManus Defender Tsawwassen, BC 92
Stephanie Norlander Forward North Vancouver, BC 32
Thea Culley Forward Rossland, BC 142

2016 Senior Development Squad
Name Position Hometown Caps

Alex Thicke Midfielder North Vancouver, BC 22
Alison Lee Defender Toronto, ON
Amanda Woodcroft Midfielder Waterloo, ON 35
Beckett Frisch Goalkeeper Calgary, AB 6
Holly Stewart Forward North Vancouver, BC 35
Kathleen Leahy Defender Victoria, BC 18
Rosie Beale Defender Victoria, BC 8
Shanlee Johnston Defender Vancouver, BC 35

2016 Junior Development Squad – Centralized
Name Position Hometown Caps

Alexis de Armond Midfielder Victoria, BC
Hannah Eborall Defender Beamsville, ON
Lauren Logush Goalkeeper Richmond Hill, ON 22
Shannon Pereira Midfielder Scarborough, ON
Margaret Pham Forward Mississauga, ON
Priya Randhawa Forward Surrey, BC 1
Rowan Harris Goalkeeper Ottawa, ON
Thora Rae Forward Vancouver, BC
Nikki Woodcroft Forward Waterloo, ON

2016 Junior Development Squad
Name Province

Abbey Maclellan PEI
Adrienne Houle ON
Alexis de Armond BC
Anna Mollenhauer BC
Ashley Mendonca ON
Brie Ricker BC
Cailean Meredith BC
Cassandra Mascarenhas ON
Dekota Chan BC
Ellie Cookson ON
Emma Wingrave ON
Hannah Eborall ONT
Isabella Fraser BC
Jaslan Stirling ON
Jordyn Faiczak ON
Katarina Angus BC
Kayla Sliz ON
Laura MacLachlan BC
Lauren Logush ON
Lindsay Cole BC
Margaret Pham ON
Nicky Bajus BC
Nicole Godman BC
Nikki Woodcroft ON
Priya Randhawa BC
Rebecca Plouffe ON
Robin Fleming BC
Rowan Harris ON
Samantha Gomes ON
Samantha McIlwrick BC
Sara Goodman BC
Shannon Pereira ON
Thora Rae BC

Story Source: Field Hockey Canada
Photo Source: Yan Huckendubler

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MIXED 7-ASIDE
In honour of the recent passing of long-time field hockey contributor John Morrison, a mixed 7-aside tournament is being organized to celebrate John’s contributions to sport , especially with Victoria’s junior development and club culture.

WHEN: November 21st. 5:00 – 7:00 pm UVic Turf 1

If anyone is interested in participating or being involved, please reply to Veronica Planella (mvplanella@gmail.com) by Monday, Nov. 16.


JOHN MORRISON:

John Morrison, kilt-wearing, golf-obsessed, coffee-loving foodie, fisherman, gardener, athlete and all round “good man” died on Friday, November 6, 2015 at the age of 57. He fought an almost unprecedented 6-year battle with brain cancer after being told he had 12 months to live. John died as he lived, with courage, kindness, spirit and humour.

John was a big-hearted man of many passions. He loved the water, being both in it and on it. Growing up in Vancouver, he spent childhood summers at Sechelt, fishing, swimming, and vowing never to live far away from the ocean. He eventually settled in Victoria with his family. Always into sports, John swam competitively, raced road bikes, and played and coached field hockey. John discovered the joy (and agony) of golf later in life. Golf allowed him to remain competitive, even through his illness, and led to great friendships with his “Posse” from the Cordova Bay Golf Course where he was a fixture.

John graduated from UBC in Microbiology and went on to become a CA, ultimately becoming CFO at Viking Air. When he could no longer work, he directed his energy into volunteering for Junior Achievement and the Victoria Brain Injury Society.

John’s greatest love was his family. He was adoring and proud father to Fiona and Axel, loving husband of 25 years to Daniela, wonderful brother to Jill (Thom) and Maggie (Tom), brother-in-law to Sue (Stephanie) and Katrin (Rich), and devoted uncle to Mack, Maggie, Angus, Cam, Cole and Finn. John will be dearly missed by them and by his many friends, including his golf “Posse”, business colleagues, field hockey teammates and kids he coached.

The family would like to extend the deepest gratitude to all those who cared for John on his journey – his doctors, nurses, hospice caregivers and volunteers, spiritual healers, and the many dear friends who brought John his favorite daily brew, along with a lot of laughs. John’s story is one of will and determination, and the power of love and support from family and friends. John taught us all that the biggest gift to one’s self is a life well lived.

Please join us to celebrate John’s life on Sunday, November 29, 2015 from 2-5pm at the Church and State Winery, 1445 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood, Victoria. RSVP to celebratejmorrison@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Victoria Hospice.

See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timescolonist/obituary.aspx?n=john-h-morrison&pid=176478349#sthash.uKYOHGb7.dpuf

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OTTAWA (CIS) – The University of Victoria Vikes women’s field hockey team are poised to hoist what would be their 12th McCrae Cup at this week’s Victoria-hosted CIS-FHC field hockey championship.

Games begin this Thursday, Nov. 5 with the No. 1 Vikes playing the No. 2 Toronto Varsity Blues at 6:30 p.m. Ticket information can be found at: http://govikesgo.com/ciswfh

The UBC Thunderbirds have won 16 McCrae Cup titles over the years including the last four in a row, both all-time records, but they are in tough to extend their remarkable streak at this week’s CIS – Field Hockey Canada women’s championship following a challenging Canada West season.

The four-team tournament, hosted by the University of Victoria for the second time in three years and for the seventh time overall, kicks off on Thursday and concludes Sunday with the gold-medal final at 3 p.m. Pacific Time All eight games from the tourney will be webcast live on CIS-SIC.tv.

Competing for the 2015 McCrae Cup will be the same four programs as a year ago, including the top-seeded and host Victoria Vikes (Canada West champions), No. 2 Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA champs), No. 3 UBC (Canada West runners-up) and No. 4 Guelph Gryphons (OUA silver medallists).

The Varsity Blues and Vikes rounded out the 2014 podium, with the Gryphons taking fourth place.

All contenders will play each other once in the preliminary round this week, with the top two finishers advancing to the final and the bottom two teams battling for bronze. Thursday’s opening day will see UBC take on Guelph at 4 p.m. and Victoria face Toronto at 6:30 p.m.

Victoria and Toronto boasts 11 national titles apiece, while Guelph’s best finish at the CIS tournament is a silver medal in 2007.

The Vikes, who last hoisted the coveted trophy in 2008 when the competition was also held in Victoria, enter the 2015 tournament on home turf beaming with confidence thanks to a 3-0-1 record against archrival UBC this season, including 3-0 and 2-0 victories in September, followed by a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw in early October.

Victoria is led by conference all-stars Annie Walters-Shumka (defence), Lizzie Yates (defence), Kathleen Leahy (defence/midfield) and Amanda Kurianowicz (forward). Leahy and defender Rosie Beale are both members of the Canadian national development team.

“We are excited to be hosting the championship,” said Canada West coach of the year Lynne Beecroft, in her 32nd season at the helm. “With the top four teams in the country participating in this prestigious tournament, we know it will be a challenging four days of competition. With a mix of veterans and rookies, the Vikes are ready to work hard to match the heroics of the 2008 team that captured our 11th CIS/FHC championship.”

Reigning four-time champion UBC, which has won the last two CIS tournaments held at UVic in 2013 and 2009, counters with three Canada West all-stars of its own in league MVP Hannah Haughn (midfield/forward), Gabby Jayme (midfield/forward) and Rowan Harris (goalkeeper). Haughn, the MVP of the 2012 CIS-FHC championship, is the only member of the senior national squad at this week’s tourney, having accumulated no less than 98 caps with the Canadian team over her career.

“We enter the CIS championship with a very young and relatively inexperienced team and we look forward to an exciting and challenging competition,” said head coach Robin D’Abreo, who helped extend the T-Birds record streak a year ago in his first season in charge. “We know we will face an exceptionally talented and hungry UVic team, who will be very tough if not impossible to beat, and some powerhouses from the East. We approach this opportunity with humility, as we always do, and have no expectations at this tournament other than to prepare diligently and focus on our game plan and process.”

Meanwhile in Ontario, Toronto and Guelph battled through a trio of high-scoring affairs this fall, with the Varsity Blues winning 5-2 in September and 4-3 in the OUA final, while the Gryphons prevailed 9-5 in an early October duel. In Saturday’s conference championship match, the Blues erased a 3-0 deficit after 15 minutes of action to stun their archrivals.

Both teams placed three players among OUA all-stars, including Alison Lee (defence), Amanda Woodcroft (midfield) and league MVP Tegan Stairs (forward) for Toronto and Erin Houle (midfield), Moon Weijens (midfield) and Ally Chute (forward) for Guelph. Lee, Stairs and Woodcroft, the MVP of last year’s CIS tourney, are all members of the Canadian senior development squad.

“Our team has been playing at a very good level and I think we’ll have an edge coming off that crazy OUA gold-medal win,” said 10-year U of T bench boss John DeSouza. “We are looking forward to playing the best hockey we can and challenging to bring that red banner back to Toronto.”

“With just one player gone from last season’s squad, we feel like our team this year is a very tight-knit group,” said OUA coach of the year Michelle Turley, in her 12th campaign at the helm. “We have worked hard to build upon some of the success we had last year. We’re thrilled to be back at the CIS championship and the players are determined to seek some redemption after a disappointing showing at last year’s nationals.”

Official championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/fh/index

TEAM PROFILES

NO. 1 VICTORIA VIKES (Canada West champions)
Head Coach: Lynne Beecroft (32nd season)
Regular season record: 7-0-1
Regular season standing: Canada West champions
Playoff record: No playoffs in CW
Playoff finish: No playoffs in CW
Overall record vs. teams at CIS championship: 3-0-1 vs. UBC
Conference award winners: Lynne Beecroft (coach), Kathleen Leahy (outstanding contributor)
Conference all-stars: Annie Walters-Shumka (D), Lizzie Yates (D), Kathleen Leahy (D/M), Amanda Kurianowicz (F)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 34th
CIS championship best result: 11-time champions (2008, ’02, ’00, ’97, ’95, ’94, ’92, ’91, ’89, ’87, ’84)
CIS championship last appearance: 2014 (bronze medal)
CIS championship sequence: 4th straight appearance (31st in 33 years)

NO. 2 TORONTO VARSITY BLUES (OUA champions)
Head Coach: John DeSouza (10th season)
Regular season record: 11-1
Regular season standing: 2nd OUA
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: OUA champions
Overall record vs. teams at CIS championship: 2-1 vs. Guelph
Conference award winners: Tegan Stairs (MVP), Hilary Ziraldo (rookie)
Conference all-stars: Alison Lee (D), Amanda Woodcroft (M), Tegan Stairs (F)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 38th
CIS championship best result: 11-time champions (2010, ’07, ’96, ’93, ’88, ’86, ’85, ’81, ’79, ’77, ’75)
CIS championship last appearance: 2014 (silver medal)
CIS championship sequence: 2nd straight appearance (11th in 12 years)

NO. 3 UBC THUNDERBIRDS (Canada West runners-up)
Head Coach: Robin D’Abreo (2nd season)
Regular season record: 4-3-1
Regular season standing: Canada West runners-up
Playoff record: No playoffs in CW
Playoff finish: No playoffs in CW
Overall record vs. teams at CIS championship: 0-3-1 vs. Victoria
Conference award winners: Hannah Haughn (MVP)
Conference all-stars: Rowan Harris (G), Hannah Haughn (M/F), Gabby Jayme (M/F)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 36th
CIS championship best result: 16-time champions (2014, ’13, ’12, ’11, ’09, ’06, ’04, ’03, ’01, ’99, ’98, ’90, ’83, ’82, ’80, ’78)
CIS championship last appearance: 2014 (champions)
CIS championship sequence: 18th straight appearance (28th in 29 years)

  • NO. 4 GUELPH GRYPHONS (OUA silver medallists)*
    Head Coach: Michelle Turley (12th season)
    Regular season record: 11-1
    Regular season standing: 1st OUA
    Playoff record: 1-1
    Playoff finish: OUA silver medallists
    Overall record vs. teams at CIS championship: 1-2 vs. Toronto
    Conference award winners: Michelle Turley (coach)
    Conference all-stars: Erin Houle (M), Moon Weijens (M), Ally Chute (F)
    CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 10th
    CIS championship best result: Finalists (2007)
    CIS championship last appearance: 2014 (fourth)
    CIS championship sequence: 9th straight appearance

McCRAE CUP CHAMPIONS
2014 UBC
2013 UBC
2012 UBC
2011 UBC
2010 Toronto
2009 UBC
2008 Victoria
2007 Toronto
2006 UBC
2005 Alberta
2004 UBC
2003 UBC
2002 Victoria
2001 UBC
2000 Victoria
1999 UBC
1998 UBC
1997 Victoria
1996 Toronto
1995 Victoria
1994 Victoria
1993 Toronto
1992 Victoria
1991 Victoria
1990 UBC
1989 Victoria
1988 Toronto
1987 Victoria
1986 Toronto
1985 Toronto
1984 Victoria
1983 UBC
1982 UBC
1981 Toronto
1980 UBC
1979 Toronto
1978 UBC
1977 Toronto
1976 Dalhousie
1975 Toronto

SEEDING

1. Victoria Vikes (Canada West champions: 7-0-1 regular season / no playoffs in CW)
2. Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA champions: 11-1-0 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)
3. UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West runners-up: 4-3-1 regular season / no playoffs in CW)
4. Guelph Gryphons (OUA silver medallists: 11-1-0 regular season / 1-1 playoffs)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times Pacific Time)

  • Wednesday, Nov. 4*
    18:30 All-Canadian Awards Banquet (Harbour Towers Hotel)
  • Thursday, Nov. 5*
    16:00 Game 1: Guelph vs. UBC (CIS-SIC.tv)
    18:30 Game 2: Toronto vs. Victoria (CIS-SIC.tv)
  • Friday, Nov. 6*
    16:00 Game 3: UBC vs. Victoria (CIS-SIC.tv)
    18:30 Game 4: Guelph vs. Toronto (CIS-SIC.tv)
  • Saturday, Nov. 7*
    12:30 Game 5: Guelph vs. Victoria (CIS-SIC.tv)
    15:00 Game 6: UBC vs. Toronto (CIS-SIC.tv)
  • Sunday, Nov. 8*
    12:30 Bronze medal (CIS-SIC.tv)
    15:00 Championship final (CIS-SIC.tv)

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CIS_SIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cissports
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/universitysport
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/CIS_SIC

CIS

For further information, please contact:

Ali Lee
Communications Officer
University of Victoria Vikes
Off: 250-721-8410
Cell: 250-418-5633
vicvikes@uvic.ca

Michel Bélanger
Communications & Media Relations
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Off: (613) 562-5670 ext. 25
Cell: (613) 447-6334
belanger@universitysport.ca