HIGH ACHIEVERS: Look out Ottawa, first dedicated field hockey pitch projected for fall 2027

By Martin Cleary

Field hockey is about to explode in Ottawa.

For the first time in the history of the sport in the nation’s capital, a dedicated field hockey pitch will be installed in the west end of Ottawa, with an anticipated completion date of the fall of 2027.

About a month ago, the Nepean Nighthawks Field Hockey Club was notified that the International Hockey Federation would be awarding a Polytan Hockey5s pitch to Ottawa through its More Places to Play initiative.

This will be the first dedicated Hockey5s Centre in Canada and will be a major infrastructure milestone for Field Hockey Canada, which is the national sport governing body.

A Hockey5s pitch is only about one-sixth of the size of an international field hockey pitch, which measures 100 yards long by 60 yards wide or 91.4 metres by 55 metres.

While Sandeep Chopra, who co-founded the Nighthawks along with his wife Maureen in 2002, was over-the-top excited by the FIH’s decision, he doubled that joy when Centaur Products stepped forward to donate more synthetic turf, while the City of Ottawa is set to match the contributions, which will create a full international-sized field.

The Hockey5s pitch and its expansion will be installed on the site of the club’s future Field Hockey Centre on Colonnade Road in Nepean.

The Field Hockey Centre received the go ahead in March, 2019, when the City of Ottawa approved the Nighthawks’ Community Partnership – Major Capital Funding application. The centre’s site has been confirmed at Charmaine Hooper Fields and the Nighthawks have a project agreement with the city, which started April 30, 2021.

The Nighthawks are now in seeking additional funds to cover the costs for the centre’s proposed second international-sized field, lights, change rooms, clubhouse, walking track around the field and a variety of outdoor spaces for yoga, meditation, meals and meetings. All funds secured by the Nighthawks will be matched by the City under their working agreement.

Alongside Field Hockey Canada, the club also will be applying for funding through the federal government’s new sports infrastructure program. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced a $1-billion sports investment program to upgrade community parks, fields and local stadiums, expand grassroots athletic access and support athletes from the playground to the podium.

Having its own dedicated field hockey pitch will allow the Nighthawks to create more programs for youth and adults and bid for national and international competitions.

Throughout its history, the Nighthawks have shared the artificial turf field at the Nepean Sportsplex’s Minto Field with minor football and other sports. Their restricted hours have limited the club’s membership to 200 and it has been operating at capacity since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We will be able to be set with a field hockey pitch dedicated 100 per cent to field hockey,” Chopra said in phone interview during a break from the World Cup masters field hockey championships in Belgium, where he was playing for Canada’s men’s 55 team and Maureen was on the Canadian women’s 60 team (both teams reached the quarter-finals).

“We’ll be able to run programs we have never run before,” he added. “We will expand our Indigenous program, reach newcomers and the under-serviced community, after-school programs as well as women’s, recreation and masters programs. On top, this will be a home for four national teams (men’s, women’s, junior men and junior women) and could bring Pan Am qualifier competitions and World Cups.”

Eight months ago, the Nighthawks had just finished developing a proposal to Field Hockey Canada. That’s when they learned about the FIH’s More Places to Play initiative, but their application had to be filed in three days.

The Nighthawks quickly switched direction and filed an application, which was processed by Field Hockey Canada, the Pan American Hockey Federation and the FIH. Their application was approved, which overwhelmed Chopra.

“I was absolutely floored by this development. It was like winning a lottery,” Chopra added. “For the FIH to recognize the work we do in Ottawa is incredible. This process was powered by people under 30. All the grant work was done by young people. Seeing that is better than winning any trophy.

“Now, young people will have a pathway to the national teams. They don’t have to move to Vancouver. This is a total game changer. Hockey5s will create a pathway to a national team for Ontario and Ottawa-area athletes.”

Centaur Products felt the same way about the first Hockey5s Centre coming to Canada and being placed in Ottawa. They wanted to improve on that award and help build a full international field.

“They wanted to support field hockey in Canada and this was a tipping point,” Chopra explained, before adding that getting a second field built will be the nest endeavour.

FIH president Tayyab Ikram was happy to see Field Hockey Canada and Ottawa earn a Hockey5s pitch because of its strong application.

“Growing hockey starts with creating opportunities for young people to play,” Ikram said in a press release, announcing the infrastructure award. “We are proud to provide this Hockey5s pitch to Field Hockey Canada as part of FIH’s Empowerment and Engagement Strategy, particularly its More Places to Play pillar, reinforcing our commitment to making hockey more accessible and inclusive.

“We hope this pitch becomes a hub for young athletes, schools and local communities, inspiring more people to discover Hockey5s, develop their skills and build a lifelong connection with our sport.”

Chopra and the Nighthawks are thankful to all their supporters who have contributed to this major local field hockey development.

“We are thrilled the FIH has recognized the value of our programs, something that would not have been possible without the Stick Together seed funding received from Field Hockey Canada,” he said in a press release.

“This project represents years of planning, community support and shared commitment and will create incredible opportunities for young people, schools and clubs throughout the region. We are deeply grateful to all the partners who have helped bring this vision to life.”