The goal of the Honouring the Past project is to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of National Teams at major competitions of the past. We aim to capture and record these moments for history to help inspire the future. Click into each page to visit rosters, images and results from the past 50 years of Canadian hockey. The information gathering has been led by Yan Huckendubler and supported by Field Hockey Canada staff. Yan is an inductee in the Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame as a builder. He has been instrumental in sport communication and photography for global hockey for over 30 years. Huge thank you to Yan for aggregating the information and photos for this project.
CLICK TO VIEW NATIONAL TEAM PAGES: Women’s National Team | Men’s National Team
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Synthetic Turf and the Evolution of Hockey (1976–1986)
Following the 1976 Montreal Olympics, synthetic turf (Synturf) began transforming international field hockey. At that time, only six countries had access to Synturf pitches, with just 20 installations worldwide. Early manufacturers included 3M (Tartan Turf), Monsanto (AstroTurf), and Poligras. The 1976 Olympics used a truck-based watering system for the turf, which, while effective, damaged the pitch’s base layer.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) responded by forming an advisory board to guide the sport’s adaptation to synthetic surfaces. By the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, Synturf was standard, though watering methods remained labor-intensive. World Cups and Champions Trophy tournaments gradually transitioned to Synturf, with all Champions Trophy events using it from 1980 onward.
Between 1976 and 1986, the number of countries with Synturf pitches grew from 6 to 34, and total pitches increased twentyfold to 400. Canada played a key role, particularly through a long-standing partnership between the Canadian Field Hockey Association (CFHA) and Monsanto. This collaboration led to major installations, including the turf at UBC (2002–2017), and the publication of a national handbook promoting Synturf.
This decade marked a pivotal shift in hockey’s modernization, setting the stage for the sport’s global growth on synthetic surfaces.
READ FULL BREAKDOWN HERE (provided by John McBryde)
The Bipartite Development of Men’s and Women’s Field Hockey in Canada – Thesis by John McBryde
Understanding the Dual Development of Field Hockey in Canada
This thesis explores how men’s and women’s field hockey developed along separate paths in Canada, shaped by both national and international influences. It’s presented in three parts: the global history of field hockey and the formation of separate international federations; the historical growth of the sport within Canada; and the complex relationship between Canadian and international hockey organizations.
DOWNLOAD THE THESIS DOCUMENT HERE
The study identifies three phases in Canada’s field hockey evolution. The first phase began when women’s hockey was independently organized in England—coinciding with the sport’s introduction to Canada. The second phase marked the start of Canadian engagement with international hockey bodies. The final phase involved deepening ties and increased collaboration between Canadian and global associations.
A major reason for the split development in Canada was the timing: the Canadian Field Hockey Association (for men) and the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Association were established when international federations were still operating separately, with differing rules and structures. These contrasting global practices significantly influenced how the sport evolved in Canada.
Overall, the thesis highlights how international dynamics and local decisions together shaped the unique, parallel growth of men’s and women’s field hockey in Canada.
