News and Announcements

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With the cold months starting to creep in the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association executive would like to advise all team representatives, players and officials that weather conditions and turf closures will be posted online at VILFHA.ca.

Field closures are first announced by both the University of Victoria and/or the Cowichan Sportsplex Rentals. As soon as the VILFHA executive are made aware e-mails and phone calls will go out to captains and an announcement in the top right corner of the VILFHA website will be made.

Officials also have the right to make a decision at game time as to whether or not the field is safe to play on or not.

For any questions or concerns please contact Ronnie Lee, Director of Operations (leeronnie19@gmail.com or 250-727-6033).

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In December, the Canadian men’s junior national team will be heading to New Delhi, India for the 2013 Junior World Cup. The team is reaching out to the field hockey community to donate field hockey sticks, balls, shoes, shin pads and anything else that can be used by kids in India to start programs for those who are unable to afford it.

If anyone has any equipment they would like to donate please drop it off at 3341 Woodburn Avenue (Henderson area). Alternatively, Alison Hastings, manager of Lynx 3, will be at the UVic Turf from 10:30-12:30pm on Saturday, Nov. 16 to collect equipment.

If you need to arrange an alternative time please contact Alison at 250-598-0644.

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VICTORIA – The annual Bridgman Cup girl’s high school tournament was held at the University of Victoria over Thanksgiving weekend, Oct. 11-13. Cowichan High edged South Delta Secondary in overtime shootouts after a scoreless 70 minutes of regular play. Handsworth defeated Crofton in the third-fourth place match up.

Since 2002, it has been tradition at the Bridgman Cup for the annual Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship to be awarded. This year the Bridgman Cup committee was very pleased to announce Victoria’s Oak Bay High graduate Gillian Kirkpatrick as the 2013 winner. To date, six winners have been from Oak Bay High including the most recent two of Maddie Secco and Kathleen Leahy – current members of Canada’s senior national team.

Kirkpatrick was a model student-athlete throughout her high school career managing her time efficiently and effectively. The midfielder balanced an honour roll standing in a challenging academic program with multiple sports at an elite level as well as numerous leadership and volunteer activities. In recognition of her accomplishments, Kirkpatrick was awarded Oak Bay Municipality’s Young Exceptional Star Award and CTV’s Amazing Kid Award.

Kirkpatrick is a multi-sport athlete, primarily in field hockey, but also competed in cross-country and track and field. At the the highest level, the Oak Bay High grad was a member of regional and provincial hockey teams including earning gold medals at the B.C. Junior and Senior Indoor Championships. In 2012, Kirkpatrick competed for Canada’s under 17 team in a series against the USA under 17 squad. She was also a member of the Inaugural premier team formed on the island – Kirby’s Island Wildcats.

In addition, Kirkpatrick was a member of Oak Bay High’s leadership program and was a dedicated volunteer coach and umpire in Victoria’s junior field hockey league.

Following high school graduation, Kirkpatrick accepted a field hockey scholarship to attend Hofstra University where she has been competing since September 2013.

ABOUT STEPHANIE JOHNSTON (DONEY)

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 Vikes 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 Victoria Women’s Field Hockey Association right up until she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

As an athlete she excelled in all sports, and could turn her hand to anything.  She was competitive, hardworking and inspirational, showing sportsmanship at all times. 

As a person she was loving, genuine, and generous, 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. Previous winners include:

2013 Gillian Kirkpatrick – Oak Bay High
2012 Maddie  Secco – Oak Bay High
2011 Kathleen Leahy – Oak Bay High
2010 Adrienne Shepherd – Oak Bay High
2010 Julie Williams – Lambrick Park
2009 Lauren Goodmanson – Lambrick Park
2008 Aly MacKay – Lambrick Park
2007 Kate Shepherd – Oak Bay High
2006 Laura Fairbairn – Mount Douglas High
2005 Teagan McInnes – Lambrick Park
2004 Victoria Hughes – Lambrick Park
2003 Emma Carbery – Oak Bay High
2002 Sandy Barreda – Oak Bay High

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

#1: TLC Camp for Kids – Friday, October 25

#2: Vikes Women’s Field Hockey Alumni & Friends Day (Celebrating Lynne’s 30th Season)

The Vikes women’s field hockey team are also working in conjunction with 100.3 The Q and the TLC Fund for Kids to host a one-session field hockey camp for boys and girls on Oct. 25. The day is a pro-d day for many of Victoria’s youth and for $25 (proceeds go to the TLC Fund for Kids), the participants receive a t-shirt, 1.5 hours of skills and fun, lunch and a day pass to the Nov. 2 date of the CIS women’s field hockey championship. The TLC Fund for Kids is a not-for-profit organization of the CRD that dedicates energy towards helping children’s health, happiness and betterment of life. The camp is open to children ages 6-11 and registration is available online now at* govikesgo.com/TLC*

In addition to the CIS Championship the Vikes will be hosting a number of events including an alumni and friends celebration event that includes a dinner to celebrate Vikes head coach Lynne Beecroft’s 30th season. The alumni event is extended to the entire day of Nov. 2 that begins with a fun, alumni and friends game in the morning and ends with watching the current Vikes squad compete at 1 p.m. and a celebration and fundraiser dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Uplands Golf Course. Tickets are $80 and can be purchased online at govikesgo.com/CISWFH . All family, friends and alumni are welcome to purchase tickets. Included in the cost is a t-shirt, dinner and a week-long pass to the 2013 CIS Championship.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see Canada’s best university field hockey and get involved!

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VICTORIA – Top-level competition returns to the island as the University of Victoria Vikes host the 2013 CIS / FHC women’s field hockey championship on Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 at the UVic field hockey pitch. The four-team tournament will pit the Canada West’s top-two, UBC and UVic, against the OUA top two. Final seeding will be determined over the next couple of weeks despite the Vikes and T-Birds already qualifying.

TOURNAMENT INFO: govikesgo.com/CISWFH

Game times are set for 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, while the weekend games will go at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Nov. 2-3. The Vikes are after their 12th CIS banner with their most recent banner being won in 2008 when tournament was hosted in Victoria.

In addition to the CIS Championship the Vikes will be hosting a number of events including an alumni and friends celebration event that includes a dinner to celebrate Vikes head coach Lynne Beecroft’s 30th season. The alumni event is extended to the entire day of Nov. 2 that begins with a fun, alumni and friends game in the morning and ends with watching the current Vikes squad compete at 1 p.m. and a celebration and fundraiser dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Uplands Golf Course. Tickets are $80 and can be purchased online at govikesgo.com/CISWFH . All family, friends and alumni are welcome to purchase tickets. Included in the cost is a t-shirt, dinner and a week-long pass to the 2013 CIS Championship.

The Vikes women’s field hockey team are also working in conjunction with 100.3 The Q and the TLC Fund for Kids to host a one-session field hockey camp for boys and girls on Oct. 25. The day is a pro-d day for many of Victoria’s youth and for $25 (proceeds go to the TLC Fund for Kids), the participants receive a t-shirt, 1.5 hours of skills and fun, lunch and a day pass to the Nov. 2 date of the CIS women’s field hockey championship. The TLC Fund for Kids is a not-for-profit organization of the CRD that dedicates energy towards helping children’s health, happiness and betterment of life. The camp is open to children ages 6-11 and registration is available online now at govikesgo.com/TLC

Don’t miss this opportunity to see Canada’s best university field hockey and get involved!

For more information visit govikesgo.com or contact Ali Lee, Vikes Alumni Chapter Chair, at alilee05@gmail.com