Last year will be a tough act to follow for the 2023 edition of the St. Michaels University School Senior Girls Field Hockey team.
Head Coach David Kerr’s squad won every game it played in 2022 except one—sweeping the city, Island and B.C. championships, culminating with a shootout win over Vancouver’s Little Flower Academy in the provincial title match. The Blue Jags’ lone loss came in the final of the prestigious Bridgman Cup tournament, where they were edged by Vancouver’s Crofton House in a shootout.
“Last year’s team realized some amazing accomplishments,” said Kerr, acknowledging that those will be difficult to replicate. Nevertheless, the 17-year veteran coach believes his team is the favourite to win this year’s Lower Island AA title, and be in the mix for an Island- and B.C. championship.
“We shall see you at the B.C.'s,” said a confident Kerr.
Despite losing 11 graduating seniors from last year’s B.C. championship squad, the Blue Jags boast an impressive core of talent. Seven players return, led by senior midfielder Wynn Brown, who represented Canada at the U18 level this year. Other players to watch for include Grade 11 Kendyll Adams, a forward who was a reserve on the Canada U16 squad, and Grade 11 Caitlyn Mullen, a midfielder who played for B.C. at the U18 national championships in July.
If eligible to play this season, Grade 10 midfielder Makenna Brown—who was tournament MVP for B.C. at the national U16 championships in July—should also be an impact player. Another key newcomer for the team is Grade 10 Katharina Heinemann.
The SMUS Senior Girls have compiled an impressive resumé in recent seasons, going to the B.C. tournament every year since 2012 and finishing outside the top-four only once during that span.
Key points on the Blue Jags’ schedule this season are the Bridgman Cup Oct. 6-8 at UVic, the ISA tournament Oct. 13-14 at Crofton House, the Island AA championships, tentatively set for Shawnigan Oct. 20-21, and the B.C. AA tournament Nov. 1-3 in Vancouver.
“We’ll have an attacking style of play, but we’ll also be solid defensively,” said Kerr. “I think that everything is possible, as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it.”
SMUS begins competition this weekend in the Friendship Cup tournament in Shawnigan and Cowichan. The Jags will meet rival Oak Bay in a 4 p.m. match Wednesday, September 20 at UVic.
