New Handsworth senior girls field hockey coach Graham Walker doesn't need any reminders that he's got a tough task ahead of him this season in replacing Paul Winstanley, who retired from coaching after last season.
All he needs to do is look into the rafters in the Handsworth gym to see three AAA provincial championship banners hanging, all of them won in the past three years. Winstanley, a longtime coach at the school, went out with a bang, first bringing the team it's first provincial title in 2011 and following that up with two more for good measure.
The responsibility now lies with Walker, promoted from his former position as junior team head coach at Handsworth, to keep the streak alive. Walker may not need to be reminded of the tough act he has to follow, but that doesn't mean he isn't hearing about it all the time.
"It's pretty traumatic, that's for sure," he said with a laugh when asked about taking the reins in the middle of a dynasty. "A number of the parents have told me that I've got huge boots to fill. It's like, 'I know that.'" So far this season Walker has proven to be up to the task. The Royals finished second in a preseason tournament played during the labour dispute - community coaches were at the helm and teams were unofficially representing their schools - and then placed third at the annual UBC tournament after classes resumed.
Their biggest test, and biggest triumph, came last weekend at the prestigious Bridgman Cup, an invite-only tournament that has been played on Vancouver Island since 1937. The Royals claimed gold at Bridgman, a tournament considered a close second behind the provincial championships in terms of importance on the field hockey calendar. Handsworth topped Crofton House 2-1 in the semifinals before beating Shawnigan Lake in a shootout — with goalkeeper Cooper Rowe coming up with two big saves — following a tight 1-1 tie in the championship game to claim the Cup.
Walker was surprised and impressed by his team's performance against some of the best squads in the province — both Crofton House and Shawnigan Lake had beaten the Royals earlier this season.
"We came off a banner year last year and I didn't think we'd get off to such a good start this year, but we just came flying out of the gates," he said. "It exceeded my expectations to be able to come out my first year and win (Bridgman). I chalk that all up to the team's determination and effort. They really did want it. It's fantastic. Most people as a player or a coach never get an opportunity to win one of these things.... I was pretty proud. I don't know if it'll ever happen again — I sure hope it does — but it's a pretty nice honour."
The team is led by a core of Grade 12 players who were part of last year's title team, including the powerhouse defensive trio of Jenna Birch Jones, Meghan Norlander and Sarah Walker.
Power forward Laura MacLachlan, the leading scorer at the Bridgman Cup, leads the attack with fellow Grade 12 forwards Katie Young and Rose Wilby.
"We have a number of players on the team who have been accepted to U.S. schools to play on scholarship when they graduate, we have a number who were on the B.C. provincial team this past season or have been on provincial teams in years past," said Walker, adding that what was really successful at the Bridgman, and what ultimately could take them to a fourth straight title, is their depth and full-team attack.
"To get No. 4 I think we need to do exactly what we did at Bridgman," he said. "We've got to just keep that consistent team play up — that really is our single biggest asset, the fact that we play very well as a team — keep the positive attitude and effort going and just believe in ourselves, believe that we can get another series of wins against these really good, competitive teams."
The quest continues this week with matchups Tuesday against West Vancouver and Wednesday against Carson Graham, both 3:30 p.m. starts at Rutledge Field, before the abbreviated regular season comes to a close against Argyle Oct. 27 starting at 3:30 p.m. at William Griffin Turf.
The North Shore AAA final is scheduled for Nov. 3 starting at 3 p.m. at Rutledge Field. The provincial championships will be played Nov. 12-14 here on the North Shore at Ambleside Park and Rutledge Field, hosted by Argyle secondary.
