Kathryn Hay of the UPEI Panthers was named first-team Canadian Interuniversity Sport All-Canadian during a banquet Wednesday prior to the start of the CIS field hockey championship in Calgary.
Hay, who was recently named Maritime Field Hockey League most valuable player and all-star, was in Calgary to accept the award.
A fourth-year student from Cornwall and a graduate of Bluefield High School, Hay is an honours biology student with a minor in psychology.
A forward on the team, she is known as a fast, aggressive player who “makes things happen,” says UPEI field hockey coach Sheila Bell.
“She was in on a large percentage of our offence this year. Her shot is incredible. It’s just so fast that goalies can’t handle it.”
Bell, who has coached Hay for the past three years, says she is always pushing herself to improve in both the physical and mental aspects of her game. something that benefits the entire UPEI team.
“I think she pushes other players to be better because she is continually tying to improve herself . . . . To have someone like Kathryn who is driven to be her best, it helps the younger girls see what level they have to be at in order to compete.”
Also joining Hay on the first All-Canadian team from the Maritime league was mid-fielder Mandy Avery of Saint Mary’s.
Jessie Janes of Dalhousie was named to the second team.
UBC’s Robyn Pendleton was named player of the year.
The CIS championship started Thursday and will continue until Sunday.
