News and Announcements

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Maddie Hunter of Oak Bay High School is the 2023 winner of the Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship. Maddie has been playing field hockey since the age of four and has been an exceptional athlete, student and sports contributor at such a young age. As a student-athlete Maddie juggled a busy academic schedule along with her high school, high performance (provincial and junior national) commitments. She maintained a 95% grade-point average in both grade 10 and 11, was an Honour Roll student in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and was a member of her school’s athletic leadership group. Maddie has over come a number of hurdles in her athletics career, most notably an ACL tear, but she was able to return in grade 11 to help Oak Bay win the AAA Provincial Championships.

In 2022 Maddie represented Canada on the U18 Next GEN development squad that played in international series in both Philadelphia and France. Maddie has also been a big contributor to the local community serving as a referee and umpire for soccer and field hockey, respectively, as well as a committed and energetic Victoria Junior league coach. Maddie is not only a stand out player, volunteer and student but she is also a kind, humble and valuable teammate and person. Maddie is now in first year competing and training with the UVic Vikes women’s field hockey team.

About Stephanie Doney Johnston
Stephanie was a graduate of Esquimalt High School where she excelled at Track and Field and Field Hockey. She went on to complete her teaching degree at the University of Victoria where she was a valuable member of the Vikette’s Field Hockey team. During Stephanie’s teaching career she was the coach of several school teams taking them to the provincial championship level.

Stephanie was an active member in the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association right up until she was diagnosed with leukemia.

As an athlete she excelled in all sports, and could turn her hand to anything. She was competitive, hardworking and inspirational and demonstrated good sportsmanship at all times. As a person, she was loving, genuine, generous and beautiful inside and out. As a mother of three small children, she was devoted; as a friend, unforgettable. She died in March 1991 at the age of 39, but her amazing qualities as a person and athlete live on in the memories of her family, friends and students and are valued by the recipients of the Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship.

Each year the Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship is awarded at the Bridgman Cup Tournament.

See a list of past winners here: https://www.bridgmancup.com/about

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It is with great sadness that the field hockey community mourns the loss of a pioneer of our sport, Pat Hall. Pat passed away peacefully with her family on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. VILFHA will share more details about a Celebration of Life when available. This weekend teams are encouraged to share in a moment of silence to reflect on Pat Hall and how much she built for the future of field hockey.

While Pat has won many accolades over the past seven decades, in recent years she has been a recurring name crossing the stage. In 2020, Pat was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame for her decades of contributions to both field hockey and softball. Pat was then honoured at the Greater Victoria Sports Awards return to the local stage in 2022, as the organizing committee presented an award in her name, the Pat Hall Volunteer Award. Just this past Fall of 2023, Field Hockey Canada then announced Pat as a member of their 2023 FHC Hall of Fame as a builder.

Pat’s list of contributions is endless. In addition to her many years as player, coach and umpire, Pat served on the executive of the VILFHA for over 40 years. She has been Victoria or BC representative with Field Hockey BC, Field Hockey Canada, the Vancouver Island Umpires Association and the Victoria Junior Field Hockey Association.

She was honoured four times with VILFHA’s most prestigious award, the Christine Trophy, for combining sportsmanship, service and playing ability. She was also honoured by Field Hockey BC with their Barbara Schrodt Award for those who have made a difference, the Gold Pin Volunteer Award and Sport BC President’s Award. In 1983, Pat was named Victoria Sports Person of the Year. In 1993, she was awarded with VILFHA Life Membership and, in 2013, the VILFHA introduced the Pat Hall Officials Development Award.

If you would like to contribute to the Pat Hall Officials Development Award visit:
https://give.vancouverfoundation.ca/s/give?ID=a0e41000005DMugAAG

VILFHA is grateful for Pat’s contributions to the sport and the stage she set for field hockey players for years to come. Our thoughts go out to Pat’s family – Denise, Donna and Marty and Pat’s beautiful grand children, all of who she loved and helped raise with unconditional love.

Pat’s Celebration of Life details:

Date: Monday, November 13, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Mary Winspear Center, 2243 Beacon Avenue (Sidney)
Plenty of parking available
Refreshments available after service

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Four Vancouver Island athletes helped the Canadian women qualify for the 2021 Junior World Cup and claim a historic gold medal at the Junior Pan American Championships held this month in Santiago, Chile. Duncan’s Sara Goodman (Cowichan FHC/UBC Thunderbirds) captained the team that included Victoria’s Stefanie Sajko (Lynx/UVic Vikes), Anna Mollenhauer (Lynx/UVic Vikes) and Nora Struchtrup (Sailors/UVic Vikes). Victoria’s Nancy Mollenhauer was also present as the team’s manager.

The women’s gold medal was the first ever women’s gold medal at any Pan American championship and the first time a men’s or women’s team has won the junior championship.

After playing to a 0-0 draw in pool play, Canada took down Uruguay 1-0 in the finals, capping off an incredible undefeated run at the 2021 Pan American Games. By defeating Chile in the semifinals, Canada had already secured their berth in the 2021 Junior World Cup. They came into the finals riding high off the semifinal win and carried the momentum into the gold medal match. After three quarters of scoreless play, Canada’s penalty corner unit earned a PC in the 53rd minute. Anna Mollenhauer, one of Canada’s stalwart defenders and corner takers, mashed in a PC rocket, to give Canada the lead.

The men’s side fell short of Junior World Cup qualification and finished fourth overall and the team included Victoria’s Johnny Jacoby, who scored two games in Canada’s opening game.

More details: http://www.fieldhockey.ca/2021/08/18/junior-national-teams-play-for-world-cup-berth-in-chile/

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We hope you will join us for our September 7 Fall VILFHA meeting (7 pm). It is being held in person and simultaneously through the wonders of technology by ZOOM:
- In person – Juan de Fuca Lower Clubhouse (limited space)
- Zoom Link to follow. Please RSVP to vilfha@gmail.com to advise if you will be attending in person or via zoom.

Please invite your team members and other interested parties to participate. A reminder a minimum attendance of one representative per team is required.

Schedule will follow soon. If you haven’t already, please let us know at vilfha@gmail.com if you are looking for players – we do have a number of people who have approached the league looking to play.

All Executive positions are up for grabs. We are beyond bare-bones (5 individuals out of 9 positions). Please talk it up within your teams – we really need representation and are happy to host ZOOM meetings if it is simpler. Please let us know if you have ANY questions about these positions. We would love to fill them and share the workload.

Please remember that teams must name 2 Umpires or Umpires-in-Training – and there is excellent on line training and support available.

Thank you – and look forward to seeing you at the meeting – and finally on the field!

Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association (VILFHA)
2021-2022 Fall Meeting
September 7, 2021

1. Call to Order
2. Adoption of Agenda
3. Adoption of 2020 Fall Meeting Minutes
4. Executive Reports

  • President
  • Review of previous year
  • Plan for upcoming year
  • Goals for following year
  • Vice-President
  • Director of Membership
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
    5. Financial Statements
    6. Proposed amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations
    7. Elections
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Island field hockey players celebrate the Junior Women’s National Team, who won gold at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile!

Full story here.