Five Comox Valley athletes were selected to the Vancouver Island Regional U18 Super Series High Performance Field Hockey team.
Taylor Ruest and Lauren Geneau from Highland Secondary School, Holly Phillips and Marissa Beninsky from Isfeld Secondary School, and Cassandra Sewell from G.P. Vanier Secondary School travelled to Victoria late in November for a two day try-out. They were told they had made the team after the second day of try-outs.
"It is extraordinary that all five girls made the team as the competition is fierce with most of the other athletes coming from Duncan and Victoria where they practice on artificial turf and have been playing since the age of nine or 10," said Comox Valley Field Hockey League (CVFHL) spokesperson Moira Ashlee.
All five girls play for their respective high school teams here in the Comox Valley, but they also have played for the CVFHL club (www.comoxvalleyfieldhockey.ca) which has been running since 2006, and starts practices in March. The girls have each put a number of hours into developing their skills and currently come out on Monday evenings to the Comox Recreation Centre to practise with the Comox Valley Ladies field hockey team.
The practices for this U18 regional high performance team begin in February and will be every Friday and Saturday at the University of Victoria turf field until April where they will participate in the U18 Provincial Regional Championship held on the mainland.
"Having to travel this distance each weekend for these practices shows the intense level of commitment and dedication that these girls (and their parents) have to this sport," Ashlee said. "Participation at the U18 Provincial Regional Championships could lead to being selected to the BC U18 Provincial Team. Each one of the girls would love to represent their province at a National Championships."
For the past three years, Comox Valley has had athletes make this regional team and the numbers have increased each year. In 2009-10, Kayleen Vander Ree, who currently plays for the University of Victoria Field Hockey team, was the first to make this regional team. Last year, Devin Phillips and Taylor Ruest both made the team. This year the Comox Valley has five athletes on this team thus showing the improved development of this sport in the Comox Valley, Ashlee said.
Ruest, who also played for the U18 Regional Team last year, is a dominant centre mid-fielder who has strong skills at controlling and distributing the ball. Geneau is a speedy forward whose favourite sound is hearing the ball hit the back of the net. Phillips is the most versatile player, having the ability to play both mid-field, and forward. She has excellent stick skills and is known to be able to pound the ball hard on the penalty corner shot.
Beninsky is the newest player to the game, having played for only two years. She is a clever mid-fielder with excellent vision for the game. She is also very quick and has excellent defensive skills making in hard for her opponents. Sewell is a very dominant centre forward who has the amazing talent for putting the ball past the keeper. Her speed and strength make it very difficult for opponents to stop her when she is anywhere near the goal.
"It is very impressive to have this many Comox Valley athletes make this high performance team and represent our community so strongly," said Ashlee. "Taylor credits her experience with the Comox Valley Field Hockey League club as one of the main reasons for her success in making the regional teams. She encourages new field hockey players to come out and play for the club."
“It is a great opportunity to learn a new sport, meet some new friends, and have some fun," Ruest said.
The CVFHL club is holding their registration night on Thursday, Feb. 2 at Mark Isfeld School at 7 p.m. in Room 300. For more information regarding the CVFHL, visit www.comoxvalleyfieldhockey.ca or contact cvfhl@hotmail.com.
– Comox Valley Field Hockey League