CDS Launches First Field Hockey Team
There are those who accept the status quo and those who don’t hesitate to lobby for change; even if they are the new kid on the block.
That was where Abbey Butler ’23 found herself a year ago when she arrived at CDS in Grade 11 not having realized there wasn’t a field hockey team. She had started playing in Grade 7 at her old school and captained the Varsity team in her Grade 9 year.
“It felt really good to be a leader of a team, even if I was one of the youngest,” said Abbey. That same season she fractured her ankle in a game at Ridley College. “I remember it like it was yesterday, I was so disappointed.”
Abbey saw the absence of her beloved sport at CDS as an opportunity to make positive change. She was fueled by the desire to finish her final year of high school playing field hockey. “CDS is the perfect place to field a field hockey team with its 10 fields and turf.”
“As a new student, I started talking it up in the hallways and the dining hall, really at every opportunity in an effort to raise interest in a sport no one here had ever played. It was actually a great way to meet people and make friends.”
After speaking with Athletic Director, John Andersen, and Director of Senior School, Ms. Bland, she went about talking with every group of girls she could find. She then created a Google form and shared it with the student body, accompanied by weekly announcements. “Last spring, we had 40 girls express interest, which was enough to convince Mr. Andersen to try it.”
“It is not that often a student takes the initiative to make a change, but Abbey managed to make all of this happen,” said John Andersen. “She has been a driving force behind the inception of this team, to recruiting players, to helping design practices. She has been a remarkable leader, teacher, motivator, and role model for her teammates.”
Abbey knew they would need at least 11 players to field a team, so she had to continue advocating throughout September in order to make it happen. The early days were interesting to say the least, as the proper field hockey sticks hadn’t arrived yet, so the girls started with floor hockey sticks, which curve left. Field hockey is played on the right. Abbey helped Mr. Andersen source sticks and skorts for the uniform, as well as research practice drills.
“Mr. Andersen has been fantastic throughout this process,” reports Abbey. “We are all learning as we go and everyone contributes something positive, whether it’s a new drill, their sense of humour, or even warm up music. We are having so much fun throughout this learning process.”
It’s been five weeks, and they have a team of 14 players, including Hayley Dagenais ’24, a rep ice hockey goalie, who they recruited to play in net. If the first few weeks are any indication of how their season will go, the sky's the limit. There was no stopping Abbey or her teammates as they prepared to play their first two Sr. Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey games this week against Havergal College and Trinity College School, both finishing in a tie of 0-0.
“It is a pleasure coaching such a dedicated and spirited group of young women, said Andersen. “It was fun to watch them apply all they have learned to their first few games.”
Go Cyclones!
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
