North Shore athletes were all over the pitch as teams representing British Columbia cleaned house at the 2023 U16 and U18 field hockey national championships held the last two weeks in Brampton, Ont.
B.C. teams took gold in all four tournaments, winning men’s and women’s U16 and U18 titles. On the women’s side B.C. was so strong they were able to send two teams at both age levels, with all four of the women’s squads reaching the podium.
At the U18 women’s tournament, team B.C. Blue grabbed gold with a 3-2 win over Ontario in the final held July 30 at Cassie Campbell Field in Brampton. That team included North Van’s Ella Rideout, Lindsey Hills, Robyn Goh, Scarlett Kotar, Stella Goddard-Despot, and Sydney Le, along with Nadine Brenninkmeyer from West Van. Goddard-Despot was the tournament’s leading scorer with nine goals.
B.C. White also hit the podium at the U18 women’s tournament, topping P.E.I. 5-0 in the bronze medal match. That team included North Van’s Kaitlyn Pennefather, Kate Martin, Olivia Okano and Tessa Wang.
At the U16 women’s level, team B.C. Blue and B.C. White met in the final, with Blue claiming gold in a 2-1 Aug. 13. The Blue team included West Van’s Allison Lavis, Maeve Lustig and Sutton van Dyk, as well as North Van’s Camryn Jensen, Emily Arnet, Julie McCusker, Lydia Harrington, Madelyn Potts, Maisie Fulton Stephenson and Meghan Lovell
Team White included Allyson Van Dijk, Chloe Zambon, Elliotte Yuen, Flora Price, Kayla Parker and Siera Edstrand from North Vancouver and Elle Ferros, Emilie Chisholm, Tristen Stanimir and Valerie Chan from West Vancouver.
On the men’s side B.C. claimed gold in the U18 division with a 3-1 win over Ontario July 13. North Van’s Chase Martin and West Van’s James Loxton both suited up for the national champs.
In the men’s U16 division, B.C. claimed the title with a 3-1 win over Quebec on a team that included North Vancouver’s Lachlan Scobbie.
