Announcement

U SPORTS Awards feature heavy island presence

Posted by Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association on Nov 03 2022 at 09:03PM PDT
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Vancouver Island was once again well represented at the U SPORTS field hockey championship awards event. University of Victoria defender Anna Mollenhauer (Victoria, BC – Lynx Club, St. Michael’s University School) became the first three-time winner of the Liz Hoffman Award as the U SPORTS Women’s Field Hockey player of the year on Thursday, while Calgary Dinos defender Isabella Green (Duncan, BC – Cowichan FHC, Cowichan High School) was named the winner of the Joyce Slipp Award as U SPORTS Rookie of the Year. Vikes bench boss Lynne Beecroft earned the nod as the Fox 40 U SPORTS Coach of the Year Award and hoisted the Marina Van Der Merwe Trophy in her 39th season.

Vikes forwards Nora Struchtrup (Victoria, BC – Sailors FHC, Oak Bay High School) and Chloe Langkammer (Duncan, BC – Cowichan FHC, Cowichan High School) joined Mollenhauer and Green on the U SPORTS All-Canadian list.

Catch the UVic Vikes hosting the York Lions in a best-of-three national championship series on Nov. 4 (4 pm), Nov. 5 (3 pm) and, if needed, Nov. 6 (3pm) at the UVic water-based pitch (Field 1). Tickets are available at govikesgo.com/tickets and the games will be streamed live on CBC Gem or the CBC Sports App and website.

Read full release: https://usports.ca/en/sports/field-hockey/f/news/2022/11/3971923262/2022-wfh-awards-20221103

MOLLENHAUER WINS THIRD LIZ HOFFMAN AWARD

Anna Mollenhauer earned the title of the top university field hockey player in Canada for the third time in her storied career after winning the award in 2018 and 2021. The fifth-year defender helped guide the Vikes to an unbeaten 7-0-1 record in 2022, recording eight goals and helping the Vikes’ defence to five shutouts. A versatile asset on the field, Mollenhauer was effective at stopping opponents in their circle while creating scoring chances of her own, setting her team up for success.

The Victoria Vike has helped her team to four conference championship titles in her time with the school, in addition to being a three-time All-Canadian and Top 8 Academic All-Canadian. Mollenhauer is also a member of the Field Hockey Canada Senior Women’s National Team.

GREEN WINS JOYCE SLIPP AWARD AS TOP FIRST-YEAR PLAYER

Isabella Green came to the Calgary Dinos hot off a successful individual performance at the U18 FHC National Championship, where she co-captained a Vancouver Island-based BC team. Her tireless work ethic, efficiency in both directions on the pitch and her leadership shown in the summer transitioned flawlessly to her first-year season with the Dinos.

Usually an attacker or midfielder, Green slid into one of the most challenging defensive positions on the pitch, at left defence. Tasked with managing the opponent’s strongest and often fastest strikers who are attacking on their forehand, Green didn’t seem phased. Starting and playing nearly every minute of every game was a testament to Green’s strength and fitness heading into the Canada West season, and her fearless, gritty nature made her a key cog to the Dinos’ defence.

Green rivalled with the best, tackling top players, many of who have been through the recent Canadian Junior World Cup and NextGEN cycles with full confidence. A demeanour on the pitch that carried maturity and experience is something any coach would value for a rookie stepping into the backline, and that was what Green delivered.

BEECROFT WINS FOX 40 U SPORTS COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD

For the second time in an illustrious 39-year career, Victoria Vikes bench boss Lynne Beecroft has been named the 2022 recipient of the Marina van der Merwe Award, emblematic of the Fox 40 U SPORTS Coach of the Year.

Beecroft has led the Victoria Vikes to four-straight unbeaten Canada West seasons and three U SPORTS titles. In her time with UVic, Beecroft has guided the Vikes to 35 appearances at the U SPORTS national championships, hoisting 14 McCrae Cups. Her Vikes host the York Lions this weekend in the best-of-three U SPORTS championship series.

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