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.

We will share more details as they come available.

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/

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

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.

The Vancouver Island Men’s Field Hockey Association (VIFHA) is looking to hire a new League Administrator to start immediately.

Please find attached a Roles & Responsibilities document outlining the duties of the VIFHA League Administrator. We are looking to hire a new administrator to take over for the 2021-22 season. Much of the legwork for the league schedule has been completed. Training and transition support will be provided.

A committee led by the VIFHA President Nic Loewen and the league executive will conduct the hiring process.

An honorarium of $1,000 will be provided for the year. This may be pro-rated depending on the successful candidate’s start date.

Please circulate to hockey friends and families you think may be interested in taking on this key role for the men’s league.

Applicants are asked to apply by Friday, Sept. 3 by email to vifhainfo@gmail.com with a cc to Nic Loewen, VIFHA President: nbloewen@yahoo.ca.

Don Descoteau
VIFHA secretary

Photo Credit: Chris Wilson / Island Wave Photography