Field Hockey Canada’s Transformation Continues
As Field Hockey Canada continues to drive transformation towards strategic objectives, we are pleased to announce changes to our staff structure that will help us achieve these.
Field Hockey Canada is delighted to welcome Emma Bray to the team as Director of Performance Operations. This newly created role will lead the key logistical elements of our national team programs and manage our team of managers across international teams and Next Gen programs. This will be a critical position as we continue to advance into ‘team of teams’ operational framework through which we can grow our reach, effectiveness and create system efficiencies. Bray is the fabulous injection for this role, as an experienced and passionate hockey leader with experience of the South African system, where she played, coached and fulfilled many roles, including that of South African women’s team manager and Technical Director. Welcome to FHC Emma. Bray said she’s thrilled to be joining Field Hockey Canada and is looking forward to driving growth and development.
“Field hockey is more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle. It’s been a great part of my life, introducing me to dynamic, authentic people from across the globe with a shared passion for sportsmanship and the development of the game.” Bray said. “I’m excited to play a role alongside some of those people in building Field Hockey Canada’s vision for the future, developing a ‘Team of Teams’ and the operational framework which drives momentum and ultimately on-field success.”
Susan Ahrens, Field Hockey Canada CEO, says, “we are thrilled to welcome Emma to FHC. She is a great fit for our organization and sport at this time.”
Also starting with Field Hockey Canada this month is Peter Milkovich. Milkovich enters the program as Interim Head Coach of the Men’s National Team and will lead the team through to end of August, including the Commonwealth Games. Milkovich is one of our most decorated and experienced Canadian Men’s National Team athletes, an Olympian and former Junior Women’s Head Coach. Ahrens said that his re-entrance into the high performance environment will be an excellent fit.
“It’s great to have a former men’s national team player back leading the team. Peter has worked in the NCAA and with Canadian National teams in the past and like Emma, comes with considerable hockey pedigree. Welcome back home Peter.”
In other staff movement, Geoff Matthews steps up from Assistant to Head Coach of the Junior men’s national team to lead the program. Geoff, the full time Technical Director at FHC’s partner club, WVFHC takes over from Indy Sehmbi who had led the men’s under 21 team through the last three World Cup cycles.
Sehmbi was a crucial member of our high performance team and had led our junior men’s teams to three Junior World Cups and also coaches at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Our immense thanks to him for an amazing time at the helm of our Next Gen and Junior Programs.
Action-packed Summer
Following the difficult times caused by the pandemic, this summer sees Field Hockey Canada programs and teams reactivating fully. For our provinces and broader community, we have our National Championships taking place at our partner society at Tamanawis, Surrey at the end of July. We will also be hosting u23 / University camp and activating in our pathway for junior programs to prepare them for a busy 2023 when JPAC and JWC will take place.
Our senior national teams are back in action with our women at the FIH Women’s World Cup in July, and both men and women in the Commonwealth Games late July. Good luck to all our teams and program leads this summer!
