In recent days, members of the Canadian Senior men’s and women’s national team Field Hockey Canada CEO Susan Ahrens have given an important voice of no confidence, with a number of complaints being placed on social media.
The problems described in a letter of 7,500 words contain the following:
- Safe sport; The letter claims that former Canadian international Peter Milkovich was hired in 2022 to coach the national team of men, despite persistent accusations of players’ abuse from his term of office as the ladies Junior National Team. His actions during his term of office, including incidents during the Commonwealth Games of 2022, brought a lifelong suspension of participation in a sport, in whatever capacity, sponsored by or under the auspices of Veldhockey Canada in every program, activity, event or competition.
- Financial mismanagement; The Canadian women, in 2019, was asked to be self -fights, even when the team had enjoyed small measures of success, including achieving results against the neighboring American team. The national teams of the men and women also stay with the few who have no sponsors for international competitions.
- Governance -Mislukings at the level of coaching/high performance; In the past six years, the national teams for men and women have each had five head coaches. The team has also had four different powerful directors since 2019.
- Staff turnover; Although there are only about six employees for the national teams, at least 41 people held positions in the past six years.
- Limited possibilities to compete: Canada did not participate in tours that are needed to gain valuable international experience outside of Pan American competitions.
All this takes place in the midst of a shrinking infrastructure for Canada. There are only around 16 universities that participate in the U -sports competition of Canada. And don’t forget: this is for a field hockey distribution of more than 3500 miles from Vancouver all the way to Prince Edward Island.
The letter has an interesting co-signator who has declared himself on social media the last day: the West Vancouver Field Hockey Club.
The body is the largest field hockey club in Canada and expressed deep concern about the situation at senior level and the affect on the base.
“Falling participation throughout the country is already an urgent concern,” says the West Vancouver Group in a release. “Without strong, transparent administration and a positive environment, our sport cannot grow. The responsibility lies with Veldhockey Canada to restore trust, to offer Momentum and to support athletes who proudly represent our nation.”
The actions of both the national teams and WVFHC are frankly extraordinary. The open uprising against the board of Veldhockey Canada is something that I have never seen to that extent. Also having the largest and most influential club is in accordance with the letter such as the Field Hockey Club of South Jersey who commented on the cases of the American administrative body of the sport.
I wonder if something will come from this Imbroglio.
#September #Whats #Samuel #Hill #Canada