UPEI field hockey players fight to regain varsity status
Some Maritime university women's field hockey players are fighting a decision they say threatens the future of their sport.
Women's field hockey teams at UPEI and Nova Scotia's Dalhousie University and Saint Mary's University are unable to compete nationally due to a recent policy change by the governing body Atlantic University Sport.
The move means the teams lose their varsity status and no longer have a shot at capturing a national title.
"It's devastating," said Panthers captain Katherine Koughan.
"We've worked all year long training for this season and it's sad to think it might not even happen."
Ellen Andrews, a former UPEI Panther, launched an online petition protesting the actions of the AUS. Within days, it received more than 1,000 signatures from across the Atlantic region.
Women's field hockey has not been officially sanctioned by AUS for the past 10 years. But a handful of universities have kept their squads in national competition by working directly through the national governing body, Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
'Definitely unfair'
Earlier this year, AUS members voted to effectively eliminate that option.
Now, teams must be officially sanctioned and must win an official AUS championship before going to national finals.
"The CIS, 10-plus years ago, made a decision to create a hybrid pathway to CIS national championship to keep field hockey going in Atlantic Canada," said Phil Currie, AUS executive director.
"And AUS has never been in favour of that, and members felt it was time to fix that through the pathway motion."
The AUS says it will help make access to top-level competition consistent and fair.
Andrews says she's overwhelmed by the support and calls it a testament to the importance of women's sport and the vitality of the field hockey community.
"The recruitment to the university levels has grown and we're recruiting people from the States, not just our own home provinces," said Andrews.
"We wanted to let the public, parents, coaches know what was happening because we thought it was definitely unfair."
Andrews hopes to convince AUS members to reverse their decision.
But the AUS says it has not closed the door on any sport. Field hockey can regain official status if three universities request it and if those universities agree to fund their teams accordingly.
