The Bridgman Cup Tournament is the oldest and most prestigious senior girls field hockey tournament in the Province, first competed in 1937.  A total of 16 teams from Victoria, the Island and Lower Mainland are confirmed.  “The tournament is a key event for the Province’s high school field hockey teams as it provides the highest level of competition leading to the Provincial AA and AAA championships played later this Fall.” said Nancy Mollenhauer, Tournament Chair and past Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Olympian. 

Play commences on Friday, October 10, 2008 with a 4 Pool round robin with the top two teams per pool advancing to the Championship Flight starting on Saturday, October 11.  Final games for top spots are played on Sunday afternoon starting at 1:30 pm.

In addition to tournament play, the Uvic Vikes Women’s Field Hockey Team hosts the UBC Thunderbirds for CIS games, Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11:00 am.  Admission is free for all Bridgman and CIS games.  On Sunday at 12:30pm a head shaving in support for Cops for Cancer and the presentation of the Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship will take place.

2008 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

· Friday, October 10:  10:00 am to 6:00 pm   -  Round Robin Play
· Saturday, October 11:  8:00 am to 11:00 am    -  Round Robin Play
· Saturday, October 11: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm  -  Uvic v/s UBC CIS Game
· Saturday, October 11: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm  - Championship and Consolation Play
· Sunday, October 12:  8:00 am to 12:00 pm  - Championship and Consolation Play
· Sunday, October 12:  11:00 to 12:30 pm  -  Uvic v/s UBC CIS Game
· Sunday, October 12: 1:30 pm – 3rd Place Championship Game
· Sunday, October 12:  2:30 pm – 1st and 2nd Place Championship Game

2008 BRIDGMAN CUP PARTICIPATING TEAMS

· Mount Douglas
· Lambrick Park
· St. Michaels University School
· Glenlyon Norfolk House
· Shawnigan Lake
· Cowichan
· Frances Kelsey
· Brentwood
· Argyle
· South Delta
· Carson Graham
· Crofton House
· Handsworth
· Little Flower Academy
· West Vancouver
· Collingwood

For more information about the 2008 Bridgman Cup please contact Nancy Mollenhauer (Tournament Chair) at Nancy.Mollenhauer@smus.bc.ca or Ian Batey (Media Liason) at ipb@shaw.ca, 250-216-1429. For more background information about the Bridgman Cup please see the box below. 

The Bridgman Cup Tournament was played for the first time during a cold November weekend in 1937.  It is the oldest field hockey tournament in North America.  The silver cup donated by Commander Montague Bridgman, was a trophy to be played for annually among the few teams in Victoria and Duncan.  Specially designed pins were presented to the winners, the prototype kept on file at Birks.  Mrs. Euphemia (or Effie as she was known) Bridgman, wife of the Commander was a keen enthusiast of the sport as well as a member of the Victoria Women’s Grass Hockey Club.  Every year from 1937 until 1974, Mrs. Bridgman kept the tournament steeped in old country tradition by providing a ‘tea’ for the finalists at her home on Christmas Hill.

In the early years of the tournament, competition was dominated by the private schools, particularly Queen Margaret’s which captured the trophy 14 times in the first 25 years.  However, in the 1960’s and 70’s the public schools, in particular Oak Bay, became more of a force.
The tournament was not played from 1975 to 1991 and the location of the prized silver cup was unknown.  Many local players would fondly recall ‘Bridgman Cup’ experiences and effort was made to revive the tournament.  Miraculously, the trophy resurfaced when a member of a Vancouver men’s team discovered it in his basement.  It was returned to the Bridgman family who arranged to have the trophy refurbished.  Since the tournament was reinstated in 1992, the Cup has been won twice by Brentwood College and three times by Cowichan Secondary.

Liz Hawes recently retired as tournament chair of the Bridgman Cup. Her work as a local field hockey player and coach, as well as coordinator of this tournament, has been greatly appreciated by the Bridgman Committee who will continue to ensure that the tradition and spirit of the original tournament is upheld.   The ‘tea’ is hosted by Gillian Young with assistance from her sister Rosemary Penn, daughters of the Bridgman’s.  This tournament has quickly become the most prestigious in the province.

PREVIOUS  WINNERS

 2007 West Vancouver
 2006 West Vancouver
 2005 No tournament held
 2004 Handsworth
 2003 Brentwood College
 2002 Cowichan
 2001 South Delta
 2000 Lambrick Park
 1999 Argyle
 1998 Cowichan
 1997 Collingwood