Induction class features nation-wide builders, coaches, officials and legendary athletes
Field Hockey Canada is thrilled to announce the class of 2025 into the Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame. This year’s induction group is a large class which includes contributors from across the country at all levels of the game. Thank you to the community for the comprehensive nominations and support. To learn more about our nomination and evaluation program, click here.
Hall of Fame chair, Mary Cicinelli notes, “this group reflects individuals whose commitment, excellence and dedication have contributed to the promotion and growth of our sport, in all areas. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with the inductees and their families later this year.”
Three 1980s Women’s National Team members enter the Hall of Fame
Three athletes are entering the Hall of Fame this year. Darlene Stoyka competed for Canada at the 1983 World Cup and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where the women’s field hockey team achieved a historic 5th-place finish. She was a gifted playmaker and goal scorer for Team Canada during her career. Michelle Conn is one of Canada’s most influential hockey players and another key athlete from that golden era of the women’s national team. Conn played 93 matches for Canada between 1983–92, served as co-captain from 1989-92, and led the team to a historic bronze at the 1986 World Cup. Another key athlete from this era was goalkeeper Sharon Bayes. As Canada’s goalkeeper during the 1980s, she was instrumental in Canada’s 1986 bronze medal at the World Cup. She logged some crucial performances at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games where Canada finished inside the top six on both occasions.
Building the game coast-to-coast
Barb Carmichael has been instrumental in advancing field hockey across Canada for over 40 years. As a coach, manager, official, and administrator, she built robust programs at all levels in her home province, Prince Edward Island. She served as PEI Field Hockey president and PEI School Athletic Association commissioner over decades. In 2025, she was inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame as a builder. Notable also are her national contributions to building a strong domestic system. This includes recent involvement on FHC’s U SPORTS committee guiding FHC’s stewardship of the national university championship. Patricia Clarke was a leader who helped shaped the global future of Canadian field hockey. As Senior Vice President of the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations (IFWHA), she chaired the steering committee for the 1979 World Championships in Vancouver and later joined the Supreme Council negotiating the historic merger of IFWHA and FIH.
A collaborative nation-wide coaching effort for four amazing contributors
These four influential coaches transformed Canadian women’s field hockey in the 1980s by creating Regional High Performance Training Centres across the country. Liz Hoffman (Ontario), Dru Marshall (Prairies), Joyce Slipp (Atlantic), and Gail Wilson (British Columbia) created athlete-centred programs that integrated sport science, elite training, and coach development. Their collaboration contributed to Canada’s unprecedented success in that period where the WNT secured World Championship silver (1983), bronze (1986), and Olympic qualifications in 1984, 1988, and 1992, elevating Canada to second in the world rankings. Their leadership built the foundation of Canada’s modern high-performance system, inspiring generations of athletes and coaches and redefining excellence in Canadian sport. They will be inducted as a group.
BC – based Canadian official dedicates over 40 years to supporting the game
Ian Gibson has been a cornerstone of Canadian and British Columbia field hockey for over five decades, excelling as an official, coach and builder. Gibson chaired the Field Hockey Canada Umpires Committee and officiated internationally, earning FIH caps at events including the 1979 Pan American Games and Junior World Cup. He also launched a grassroots program that transformed the South Okanagan into a thriving hockey hub. His leadership extended to hosting major tournaments, mentoring players, and shaping umpiring standards nationwide.
Field Hockey Canada will dedicate time in July and August to launch comprehensive induction videos and articles celebrating each member of the Class of 2025. Congratulations to everyone on their induction. To visit the hall of fame and see previous inductions classes, please click here.
Class of 2025 Inductees
- Darlene Stoyka – Athlete
- Michelle Conn – Athlete
- Sharon Bayes – Athlete
- Barb Carmichael – Builder
- Patricia Clarke – Builder
- Liz Hoffman, Dru Marshall, Joyce Slipp & Gail Wilson – Coaching Tandem
- Ian Gibson – Official
