Dr. Harry Warren (Pioneer)

Inductee Name: Harry Warren
Category: Builder
Date: Class of 2014

Inducted in the builder category, the great pioneer Dr. Harry Warren is commonly known as the father of field hockey in Canada. And like many in the sport, his involvement began as a young player. While a second year student at the university of british columbia, he formed the university’s first field hockey team. He kept playing, but his biggest accomplishments with respect to the sport, came as an administrator. He founded the Canadian Men’s Field Hockey Association and was a key player involved in the launch of the Women’s Association.

His efforts resulted in field hockey being recognized as an olympic sport by the Canadian Olympic Committee, and paved the way for field hockey players – for decades to come – to be a part of the world’s biggest tournament. In 1965, Warren and Canadian Olympic President Harold Wright received an international accolade which honoured Canadian field hockey and its service to hockey.

In many respects, field hockey in Canada is what it is today because of Dr. Harry Warren. Warren received many honours throughout his life, including the order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada, but he himself held sport and field hockey close to him.

Congratulations to Dr. Harry Warren on his induction into the Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame.

Induction Video:

Highlights:

Known as the “Father of Field Hockey”
In 1923-24, as a second year student, organized and played on UBC’s first field hockey team
Captained UBC teams in 1924025 and 1925-26
Rhodes Scholar at Oxford from 1926-1929, played rugby, cricket and field hockey while there
In 1956, involved in the planning, organizing and financing required to send Canada’s first women’s field hockey team to the IFWHA World Tournament in Australia
Established National Men’s Association and was the founding President from 1961-64 and assisted in the creation of the women’s association, was Honorary President from 1962-1991
Spearheaded effort resulting in Canadian Olympic Association recognizing field hockey as Olympic sport in 1964
1965, Warren and Harold Wright accepted Leautey Cup awarded “to the National Association having obtained the best international results during the twelve months, or whose initiative, activities, behaviours and progress have been such as to prove it to be most meritorious and having best served the cause of hockey.”
Order of Merit from International Hockey federal in 1977 for being “founding father” of hockey in Canad
Order of Canada in 1971
Order of BC 1991
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame