Canada West Communications
The Canada West field hockey season opens this weekend, with the UBC Thunderbirds heading to Victoria for a pair of games to open the 2015 campaign.
UBC, the four-time defending CIS champions, are the conference coaches preseason pick to repeat as Canada West champions this season, earning first place votes (4 pts.) from both Calgary and Victoria in the annual preseason coaches poll.
Victoria, who will play host to CIS nationals November 5-8, was the coaches pick to finish second in the conference, earning UBC’s first place vote, and Calgary’s second place vote for a total of three points.
Calgary rounds out the poll with a pair of points.
To get you set for the 2015 season, here’s a look at each of the conference’s three teams.
UBC
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 5-1-2
2014-15 CW Playoff Record: /
2014-15 Overall Record: 7-2-3
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: 2014/25
Last CIS Title/Total CIS Titles: 2014/16
Number of new players: 7
Key Recruits (Name (POS/Hometown/Last Team)): Cailean Meredith (F, Delta, B.C./Drexel University), Natasha Ford (GK/Vancouver, B.C./University of Maine), Sara Lowes (D/Duncan, B.C./Cowichan Secondary)
Number of departing players: 6
Key Losses (Name (POS/number of years with team)): Poonam Sandhu (M/5), Lauren Logush (GK/2), Rachel Donohoe (M/3)
Key performer: Hannah Haughn (2012 CIS Rookie of the Year, 2012 CIS Tournament MVP), Katrina Davis (fifth-year defender), Sarah Keglowitsch (2011 Canada West Rookie of the Year)
Key storyline: The UBC Thunderbirds enter the 2015 season as the four-time defending CIS champions. But a title defence is being mounted with a roster that is much different from the one that claimed the national championship in Toronto last autumn. Poonam Sandhu, the only CIS player to ever win five national titles in a row, has graduated while CIS Rookie of the Year Lauren Logush and former Canada West Player of the Year Rachel Donohoe have also departed the program. The dynamic Hannah Haughn is back for her fourth season at UBC. She recorded 11 goals last season to lead the entire Canada West in scoring. The 2011 Canada West Rookie of the Sarah Keglowitsch will anchor the midfield while in goal, Rowan Harris and Natasha Ford have experience with the Canadian Under-21 national team program.
CALGARY
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 0-8
2014-15 CW Playoff Record: N/A
2014-15 Overall Record: 0-8
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: 1974/2
Last CIS Title/Total CIS Titles: N/A
Number of new players: 11
Key Recruits (Name (POS/Hometown/Last Team)):Jenna Birch-Jones (M) - North Vancouver, Emma Thunnissen (M) - Amsterdam - Ned, Hayley Newman (F) - Calgary, Danica Heath (F) - Calgary, Meghan Norlander (M) - North Vancouver, Maddie Arbuckle (G) - North Vancouver, Sabrina Wong (M/D) - Vancouver, Jenna Bower (F) - Oliver, BC, Rhiannon Breen (M) - Calgary, Lauren Hayes (F) - Victoria, BC, Brianna Agostinho (M/F) - Oliver, BC
Number of departing players: 2
Key Losses:
Brittney Whittaker - Fwd/2 years, Erin Lloyd - M/1 year
Key performer:
Beckett Frisch (Goalie)- As a member of the Canadian National team, we will be looking for Beckett to lead the way by being the base of a strong defensive unit, allowing our creative and attacking players to have the confidence to go forward and score goals.
Coach Quote:
“We're building the foundation for an exciting new era of Dinos Women's Field Hockey.” - Dinos head coach Henré Meyer
Key storyline:
“Our goal is to make the CIS nationals. With many returning players, led by our captains Janelle Rice and Jessica Britton, we also have some exciting young recruits joining the team. This gives us a well balanced unit of experience, youthful energy and commitment. Our first 4 games are played at home, and we will be looking to use this home field advantage and get our season off to the right start.” - Meyer
VICTORIA
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 5-1-2 (2nd)
2014-15 CW Playoff Record: /
2014-15 CIS Record: 2-1-1 (Bronze)
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: 2013 / 16
Last CIS Title/Total CIS Titles: 2008 / 11
Number of new players: 3
Key Recruits: Alexis De Armond (D/M/Victoria, BC/Team BC); Jocelynne Charlton (F/Victoria, BC/St. Michael’s University School), Elspeth McGillivray (M/F/Victoria,BC/Univ. of Connecticut)
Number of departing players: 3
Key Losses: Alexis Veljacic (D/5), Marin Davidson (F/3), Emily Bennett (M/2)
Key performers:
Kathleen Leahy (D/M/Victoria, BC/Team Canada) – Senior Women’s National Team, 2014 CW All-Star, 2014 CIS Championship All-Star
Rosie Beale (D/Victoria, BC/Team Canada) – Senior Women’s National Team, 2014 CW All-STar
Amanda Kurianowicz (F/Calgary, AB/Team Alberta) – 2014 CIS First Team All-Canadian, 2014 CIS Championship All-Star
Coach Quote:
“We have a lot of fourth year players and our strength could very well be our experience,” said Victoria head coach Lynne Beecroft, who has eight players in fourth or fifth year. “With that experience comes a lot of previous team cohesion and I truly believe they care a lot about each other.”
“It’s a bonus and also a curse being hosts of nationals,” Beecroft added about the four day event taking place on the Ring Road campus from Nov. 5-8. “We want to challenge the team and earn a spot at nationals and that means starting off on the right foot now.”
Key storyline:
The Vikes women’s field hockey team boast 11 players in third year or higher including 2014 CIS First Team All-Canadian and forward Amanda Kurianowicz, as well as current Canadian senior national team members Kathleen Leahy and Rosie Beale. Reigning Canada West Coach of the Year Lynne Beecroft enters her 32nd season in a year that the Vikes will also play host to the 2015 CIS-FHC National championship in November. Depth, experience, versatility and team cohesion are the strengths of this year’s contingent, while the Vikes, who have yet to win a banner since 2008, will look to improve on their 2014 CIS bronze medal and continue the legacy of the Victoria field hockey program which holds 11 national titles.