It has been a busy month for the Canadian women’s national team at both the senior and junior level. Island talent on the national squads have slowly been increasing as Field Hockey Canada announced this week both the senior national team touring to Chula Vista, USA from Feb. 8-12 and the junior national team competing at the Pan American Junior Championship in Trinidad and Tobago Mar. 29 to Apr. 10.

In January the Under 21 women’s national team toured Chile and played seven exhibition games there, winning three of the lot, and from there a squad was picked for the Pan American Junior team. Victoria’s Lindsay Cole and Alexis De Armond, both Mount Douglas Secondary grads, current Victoria Vikes and former Lynx Club members, as well as Cowichan Secondary’s Sara Goodman were picked for the tour. All three were also named to the recent Pan American Junior Championship team.

Eighteen athletes were named to this tournament, which serves as a 2016 Junior World Cup qualifier. The top two finishers at the tournament will earn a spot at the 2016 Junior Women’s World Cup to be played in Chile from Nov. 23 to Dec. 4, 2016.

Full U21 Roster: http://www.fieldhockey.ca/2016/01/28/canadian-team-named-for-junior-womens-pan-american-championships/

In addition to the junior national team selection, De Armond will get her first crack at the senior national team as the first-year Vike was selected for her first senior tour at the Olympic Training grounds in San Diego in mid-February. The team arrives Feb. 5 and trains for two days before gearing up for matches against the USA on Feb. 8, 9, 11 and 12.

Canada and the United States last met in the 2015 Pan Am Games semi-final when the Americans (ranked seventh in the world) narrowly defeated the host Canadians 3-0. The Americans went on to repeat as champion, while the Canadians beat Chile 1-0 in the bronze medal game, earning a medal at the Pan Ams for the first time since 1999.

De Armond will join senior national squad athletes Kathleen Leahy, Maddie Secco and Rosie Beale, all Victoria natives and members of the Lynx Club. Former University of Victoria Vikes members Thea Culley, Danielle Hennig and Kaitlyn Williams were also named to the team and form the core of the veteran leadership on the team.

Full Senior Roster: http://www.fieldhockey.ca/2016/01/27/womens-national-team-roster-named-for-february-series-with-u-s/

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

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).

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

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