CATEGORY: Athlete
Current Vikes women's field hockey coach Lynne Beecroft was a rookie when UVic participated in the first Canada West field hockey championship in 1975. The Vancouver Island native completed five straight seasons with the Vikettes, propelling herself to a spot on team Canada.
Beecroft competed for UVic from 1975-79, helping her team capture two Canada West titles and three second-place finishes in the highly-competitive Canada West conference. The Vikettes, as they were called in her era, also won a silver and two bronze medals at the CIAU Championship during her tenure with the team.
Beecroft’s speed and tenacity earned her the nickname of “Buzz,” a name that has become synonymous with an ever-lasting tradition of excellence in the field hockey community.
“(Lynne) of course went on to have a brilliant career with Canada. Buzz had such quick reactions and let’s not forget those dancing feet,” said Jenny John, head coach at the time of Beecroft’s UVic playing days.
Also competing on several BC provincial teams, Beecroft was a part of the Senior National Championship team in 1980, as well as the Canadian National team from 1977-85. With Canada, Beecroft earned 58 caps and participated in four World Cups and one Olympic Games (1984). At the Los Angeles Olympics, Canada finished tied for third, but was relegated to 5th due to goal differential.
Although she was inducted into the UVic Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete, to date as a coach she has produced over 60 CIS All-Canadians, six CIS player of the years, four CIS championship MVPs, two Gail Wilson award recipients, two CIS rookie of the years, seven Canada West player of the years, six Canada West rookie of the years, one Canada West goalkeeper of the year, five Canada West Gail Wilson award recipients and over 107 Canada West all-stars.
UVic Achievements
As an athlete
- 1975-79 Competed for the UVic field hockey team
- Won a silver and two bronze CIAU medals as a UVic athlete
As head coach
- 1985-present Head coach of the UVic women's field hockey team
- Led the Vikettes/Vikes to 25 CIS medals in 26 appearances (11 gold, 8 silver, 7 bronze medals)
- 1984 (as assistant coach), '87, '89, '91, '92, '94, '95, '97, '00, '02, '08 CIS National Champions
- 1990, 1994, 2002 Canada West Coach of the Year
- Produced 61 CIS All-Canadians, six CIS Player of the Years, four CIS Championship MVPs, two Gail Wilson Award Recipients, two CIS Rookie of the Years
- Produced seven Canada West Player of the Years, six Canada West Rookie of the Years, one Canada West Goalkeeper of the Year, five Canada West Gail Wilson Award Recipients and over 107 Canada West All-Stars
International Achievements
- 1977-85 Competed for the Canadian Women's Field Hockey team and has 58 international caps
- 1978, '79, '81, '83 Competed at World Cup Championships
- 1983 World Cup silver medalist in Kuala Lumpur
- 1984 LA Summer Olympic Games
Other Achievements
- 1974 to 1985 Member of BC Provincial Teams
- 2000 Canadian Field Hockey 3M Elite Coach of the Year
- 1995 City of Victoria Sportswomen of the Year
- 2000 City of Victoria Coach of the Year
Hall of Fame
- Inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame 2009
- Inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2014
