VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes women’s field hockey team are pleased to announce the commitment of Victoria native and Mount Douglas Secondary graduate Alexis De Armond for the 2015-16 season. The 41st CIS/FHC national championship, set for Nov. 5-8, 2015, will return to Victoria as the Vikes will host for the seventh time since 1975.
De Armond is a graduate of the Rams field hockey program, coached by former Vike Andrea Rushton, as well as the recently formed Canadian Sport School at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence. Recently De Armond was named the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association’s top Under 18 player and has locally been a committed member to the Lynx Field Hockey Club and the Kirby’s Island Wildcats premier team.
“I am extremely pleased that Lexi has chosen to attend UVic, and join the Vikes women’s field hockey team,” said Lynne Beecroft, who will enter her 32nd season as head coach this coming fall. “Lexi is a very skilled player who will have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the 2015-16 Vikes team. I look forward to watching her grow as a student, player, and person over the next five years!”
A multi-sport athlete, De Armond has excelled for years in soccer, basketball and track and field, while choosing to pursue field hockey primarily since 2012. With multiple accolades across a variety of disciplines, De Armond will build on her already successful hockey career by suiting up for the blue and gold next fall.
“I’m really looking forward to attending UVic to pursue my post-secondary education and to play field hockey with the Vikes,” said De Armond. “I love that I continue to have opportunity to play field hockey with a program that is consistently recognized as one of Canada’s strongest programs and has such an impressive history of excellence.”
Since 2012, De Armond has been a part of Canada’s junior national team target squad, with eyes on the 2017 Junior World Cup. At only 18, De Armond has been invited to several Under 21 national team camps and trained with the senior squad in 2014. At the U18 National Championship, De Armond was pivotal to helping Team BC with three-straight gold medal titles (2012-2014).
“It will be a privilege to be coached by Buzz and Krista and to follow in the footsteps of many outstanding Vikes,” added De Armond, who has previously been coached by UVic coaches Lynne Beecroft and Krista Thompson either through the Vikes Rising Stars program or the local high performance programs.
De Armond has no set commitment to a particular position, as the hopeful Social Sciences major as shown strength in the backfield, midfield and up front. De Armond and the Vikes will look to break UBC’s four-straight national title streak and go for their 12th McCrae Cup, last won at home in 2008, on Nov. 5-8 at UVic’s water-based artificial field. As hosts, the Vikes will automatically earn a berth into the Championship, while the tournament will also feature one other berth from the Canada West and two from the eastern conferences.
ATHLETE PROFILE
Full Name: Alexis De Armond
Current Age: 18
Position: Defence, Midfield, Forward
Height: 5’5″
Intended major/program at UVic: Social Sciences
High School: Mount Douglas High School and Canadian Sport School at PISE
City of High School: Victoria, B.C.
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
Previous teams played on: Lynx 1, Kirby’s Island Wildcats Premier Team, Team BC, Canadian Junior National Team, Mount Douglas High School
AWARDS
2014 – 2015
- Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association: Trelawney Shield (Outstanding Player Under 18)
- Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association: All StarTeam (Div 1/Lynx)
2013 – 2014
- Mt. Douglas Secondary School: Grade 11 Female Athlete of the Year
- Mt. Douglas Secondary School: Outstanding Field Hockey Athlete of the Year Award
- Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association: All Star Team (Div 2/Lynx)
2012 – 2013
- Mt. Douglas Secondary School: Grade 10 Female Athlete of the Year
- Mt. Douglas Secondary School: Outstanding Junior Basketball Athlete of the Year
- Mt. Douglas Secondary School: Outstanding Field Hockey Athlete of the Year
- Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association: Most Valuable Player (Div 2)
- Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association: All Star Team (Div 2/Lynx)
Post Courtesy, University of Victoria. View original article here.
