Comments on this article
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Yan Huckendubler
05-02-2005 10:21 pm
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Congratulations
Congratulations to the field hockey community in Calgary, which has worked hard on this project for years. It must be a great feeling to finally be able to play on this turf!
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Niall Sturrock
05-03-2005 10:27 am
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Tony,
Congratulations to you and everyone at Field Hockey Alberta for getting your dream to reality. I am sure that the opening event will only be the start of top class field hockey exhibitions on the new field.
Best wishes for a successful day.
Niall
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Peter Jones
05-03-2005 4:10 pm
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How did you do it?
Congratulations to all in Alberta on the opening of your turf. Could someone supply some details on how you pu together the funding for a venture like this? How are operating costs going to be covered and will it be used only for field hockey?
Having played against Alberta teams both indoors and outdoors, I know that there is a fairly small but passionate group of players in the province. I hope that the turf will help with the development of the sport in the area.
Best wishes for a tremendous opening day.
Peter
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ronaldhino
05-03-2005 4:13 pm
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update
folks,
fyi, it was tim hawkings who was the real driver behind this project. without him this project would have never come to fruition. kudos to tim for his dedication and hard work in putting this project together. tony, your article should have truely mentioned tim hawkings as the key person on this. does anyone know if the field will be named after him?
cheers
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Hawkings Field
05-04-2005 4:30 am
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Yes I believe that the new turf in Calgary will be called Hawkings field.
I agree that Tony Stewart should have mentioned that in his letter.
I also think that he should have mentioned the fact that the field is at the University of Calgary, it is owned and operated by the U of C and is the home field and training ground for the Dinos.
I do believe that FHA had some involvment in the process and I do know that past program developer Carl Dalton, who was also the head coach for the Dinos played a key role in designing and in getting the field.
It is fantastic that Calgary has this first class facility. However I do know that the leagues in Calgary, which are linked to FHA are not going to be playing all of their games on the turf due to the cost. That cost is set by the U of C because it is U of C property and because U of C and Tim Hawkings were responsible for financing the field.
FHA shouldn't be praise for the new facility, especially without acknowledging the parties that deserve that praise.
Hopefully the new facility will help field hockey to grow in Calgary. I do however know that this will not be helped by the current organization that is FHA.
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Harry Johal
05-04-2005 12:06 pm
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Congratulations
Congratulations to all field hockey players in Calgary. I haven't been on the turf yet, but look forward to seeing it first hand when the outdoor league starts. I know that there were some setacks during the project development phase, but it is nice to see it come to a fruition. Well done to Tim Hawkings and the team!
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Mike
05-04-2005 12:59 pm
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Name
I believe the name of the stadium should not be called the hawkings stadium rather a person in Calgary who pioneered the sport of field hockey..Maybe can we go after a corporate sponsor...such as Telus Stadium or Encana Stadium....did we exhaust all avenues.
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Andre
05-04-2005 4:07 pm
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congrats
how about putting on a big tournament for everybody in North America?
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Malcolm
05-04-2005 5:28 pm
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Name
I agree with who ever Mike is.
Although, Tim put countless hours in attending meetings and although Tim did an excellent job, and should have the gratitude of all involved in field hockey in Calgary.
But has anyone considered all those others before him?
Those who put just as many hours to build the field hockey community to a point where building a field was a reality?
Building a field was always a vision, but Calgary never had the budget or resources to do it.
Not taking any credit away from Tim, but what about Amby Gregg, Peter vander Pyl, Roger Thurnbeck, Gyles Parker, Amar Mangat, Kelvin Wood. I am sure there are just as many on the women?s side.
In my opinion they all laid the foundation that enabled this field to become a reality.
This is an exciting time for the new generation of athletes in Calgary. They have a lot to look forward to with this new field.
On a side note, no matter who the field is named after, there will always be someone who will disagree. I am just drawing attention to a different point of view.
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Mike
05-04-2005 9:02 pm
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Name
Malcolm...thanks....
how about Michelle Conn, Gae Porteus, and yes Amby Gregg is the name I was looking for....I agree Tim put alot of effort etc....but name should be a name synonymous with Calgary Hockey....
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Sandeep
05-06-2005 8:27 am
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Brothers and Sisters
Congrats to my hockey brothers and sisters in Alberta.
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mike
05-06-2005 4:01 pm
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...
How about Sandeep Chopra Stadium...Sandeep was a key nucleus of the Alberta Team way back when....
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Sandeep
05-10-2005 9:00 pm
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No
what an unpopular move that would be Mike!
specially since there are people in my family who have contributed so much more to Alberta hockey.....
How about Conn staduim? I could score points with that....
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Malcolm
05-11-2005 2:14 pm
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Sandeep
Chopra stadium, No way. He retired at a young age to go make babies. Besides he is from that city up north. ;)
Hey Sandy we miss you here in Alberta.
I?d vote for naming it ?Conn stadium? A great athlete but more so, a great personality.
If she is good enough to be in the Alberta hall of fame. Then why not a stadium name.
Freeman, is that's you. How are you? Where are you?
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Harry
05-11-2005 5:52 pm
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Mike/Malcolm/Sandeep
Correct me if I am wrong, but Chopra never played hockey in the Calgary league. Therefore, can't name it Chopra Stadium. Do you have to name the stadium/field after someone? I personally believe who ever was the largest $ contributer in building the field should have a say. Sorry Sandeep :)
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YAY!...but....
05-13-2005 6:24 pm
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watering
so congrats to everyone invovled with field hockey not only in calgary, but throughout alberta...and also to everyone who worked so so hard to make this field a reality...
but the funny thing is that it's a water based turf...yet the only water it ever sees is the rain :P
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The Water Boy
05-15-2005 12:13 pm
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I've seen the cannons on. They work great. The water lines need to be blown out every fall to prevent them from freezing and bursting over the winter. They can't be turned back on until a certain time when they won't freeze (it does snow in May in Calgary sometimes). So if you're playing on it dry right now maybe the water just hasn't been turned on.
Have the stroke marks been fixed? How?
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YAY YAY YAY
05-16-2005 1:53 pm
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YAY!....But....
Can you spell rip-off
No water. Cost twice as much to rent than McMahon and we pay for parking.
So why not McMahon?
Besides we could charge admission to those Americans who come to watch field hockey during Stampede week.
But seriously why are we paying more than the going rate for a field hockey pitch, especially if there is a cheaper one down the street?
Playing on a water based field that is not watered.
Doesn?t that damage the turf?
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Prices
05-16-2005 3:34 pm
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Doesn't the "Calgary Field Hockey Foundation" set the rates? They are a mix of UofC, FHA, CLFHA, and FHAC I think.
McMahon won't confirm turf time until late in the year. So you can't set practice schedules until April. Then they can cancel your practice with no penalty. Remember last year when they showed the Flames game on the Jumbotron? FHA was supposed to be practicing, but McMahon cancelled that. We get treated like dirt at McMahon.
Hope the water comes on soon!
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Sandeep
05-16-2005 4:29 pm
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Mal/HArry
Boys, you are right I played only a few games in Calgary .......
PLus I think you have to be good to have a stadium named after you, two strikes right of the bat......
How about I show up to play for fun some time soon just for the love of Alberta Hockey, got a spot for me....ok I'll buy the first couple of rounds too......
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Ed
05-17-2005 2:00 pm
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Price is right
Bolocks!!!
We have had league games at McMahon for years without a problem.
Flames game and McMahon, FHA cancelled that one. McMahon were allowing us to play hockey on the field while the game was on. The hockey fans were in the stands and not at field level. Missed opportunity by FHA to promote the game of field hockey.
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Simba
05-17-2005 2:07 pm
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Sandeep
Sandeep,
Simba will always have a spot for you on our team, you are near and dear to our hearts.
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Harry
05-17-2005 2:58 pm
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Sandeep
Simba is right! There is always a spot open for you. :) Always good to catch up with you. :) Hope to see you soon in Calgary, if not I will be making a trip to Ottawa either next spring or summer with 2 kids in tow.
Take care,
H.
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Sandeep
05-17-2005 3:07 pm
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Simba
truly lion hearted of you...thanks
maybe this summer then
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Hu-zah!
05-17-2005 3:42 pm
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So what exactly are you complaining about Ed/YAYAYAYAYAY? Tell us how much McMahon is and how much the UofC field is. It is a better field when wet - but is it worth the price increase? The UofA field costs ~$50/hr. I don't remember what the Vancouver rates are for the various fields.
It's too bad that despite the good news of Calgary finally getting a great field people have to complain about something.
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ed
05-18-2005 1:24 pm
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Hu-zah!
U of C $100/hr, + $$ parking.
McMahon $50/hr + no cost for parking
U of A $50/hr + no cost for parking
Why compare Vancouver rates, are land value and taxes the same there?
complaining !!!! What, we should just pay the unjustified extra rate and pretend we are dealing with the federal government?
It's great having a hockey field in Calgary...... but why screw the membership?
The extra cost at U of C must be for the ambiance
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g-unit
05-18-2005 6:18 pm
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americans coming to calgary for the stampede and watching field hockey...u gotta b kiddin' me lol
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YAY YAY YAY
05-19-2005 1:32 pm
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g-unit
It for real???. About half the stands are full.
Not really.
During Stamped week, McMahon rents its parking lot to travelers with RVs.
When a game is on, a few will straggle in and watch this crazy sport with curved sticks.
With a lot of yelling and whistles.
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Sha-Zam!
05-19-2005 7:50 pm
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re: ed
Thanks for the prices ed. Now I'll ask you how much you think the facility is worth, considering the price of McMahon and the UofA field (think of FHA practices too).
What should the Calgary leagues pay for the turf? It is better than McM, so how much more?
Does the turf have loans on it?
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Jack
05-24-2005 8:42 am
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Water
Where thy Water at the new Turf...Its now been two weeks and still no water on the turf at the new facility....we are paying big dollars for this....
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Wonder women AKA Ed
05-24-2005 12:05 pm
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Sha-Zam!
Is the turf better than McMahon or U of A? Not in the tune of charging 100% more or double the cost of the other facilities, and what does FHA practice, have anything to do with it.
Secondly on the loan. So are you taxing the membership to pay down the loan for a field that the members already contributed to?
It will be interesting to see what the relative rates are in other cities for comparable fields. i.e. If UBC builds another field for the Olympic qualifier, will it cost twice as much to rent than their existing field?
But that?s not a fair comparison, because the turf at McMahon is in good shape, while the U of C already has humps at a number of spots, possible from frost heaving????
Would you use your clubs funds to rent U of C for practices when McMahon is half the cost, by all means charge more than the going rate to pay back the loan, but lets not get greedy and screw the membership.
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Ka-Pow!
05-24-2005 3:42 pm
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re: WW aka ed
Thanks ed. I'm not telling you how it should be - I'm asking you what you think of it.
I personally think McMahon is a terrible field - any dry field is rubbish, but McMahon has the worst crown and is way too bouncy. So I am thrilled that we have a new field to play on. $100/hr is steep. But that turf cost ~$1.5 million I heard. Yeah we put lots of money into it - but not that much.
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Will Moss
05-26-2005 10:29 am
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new field
There are a couple of things about the new turf that people havent mentioned yet, myself as a junior player in Alberta know that for juniors it is $50.With the water on the turf i beleave that water canons are not workingbecasue the canon in the far corner has a leak and they are tryingto get it fixed which in my mind is a bit of a joke since we spent a 1.5 million on this turf, there have been many injruys already in mens league and practises at the new turf. I also find it funny how the Edmonton turf has humps on it already, but if you look at the new turf there are humps on the 5 meter line outside of the D
This field will be a world class field when everything is up and running properly.
Atleast we dont have a livinsting field on our hands lets not let that happen
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Billy Squire
05-27-2005 11:06 am
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Stroke
So have the stroke marks been fixed?
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g-unit
05-27-2005 10:37 pm
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if the water does not start soon, the manufacteur of the field says water is NEEDED for proper maintenance and care of the field...that said if we keep playing and playing on it without water it may last who knows (5-10 yrs less) because of the excessive wear...
so lets just hope we dont get a livingston field here as it is a great turf for calgary, if there were no problemos.
peace
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...
05-30-2005 1:35 pm
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Water Water...
This past weekend the new turf opened up at the University with the Water Magically being turned on during the speeches yet in the past month for Mens Hockey on Wednesday night the pitch has been as dry as the Sahara Desert....
Why cant they just turn the water on!!!!!
If they dont the turf will go to the dogs like Mcmahon...
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U of C(heap)
05-30-2005 3:41 pm
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I'd have to think the UofC is responsible for the maintenance so ask them why the water wasn't working. Maybe they just don't want to pay for the maintenance or the water.....
Also, g-unit, if you think that a lack of water will make the turf last 10 years LESS - you need to know that turf will last 10-12 years when it is well maintained and then it needs to be replaced. That's assuming solid usage which we will have in Calgary. Playing on that turf dry is not good for it - but not as bad as you make it out to be. It is bad for the players and the quality of the games (ok, they're not good anyway).
McMahon is meant to be dry.
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Will Moss
05-31-2005 12:08 pm
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i want to know if u actually think the quailty of play in calgary isnt good whoever left the last comment
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That was me!
05-31-2005 1:38 pm
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re: will moss
No, I think the quality of play is fine. The games are not as too often people don't show up. The league is not a world beater but there are some good players.
Did anyone try-out for the Senior Men on the weekend? Will?
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Will Moss
06-02-2005 9:53 am
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re: provincal team
yes there were about 14 players that were at the trials this weekend, also there were 3 players that were out of town during the trials. so we may even have to make a cut or 2. its very surpriseing. it seems that everyone that was there last weekend is commited to the team.
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Hallo! Me Again!
06-02-2005 12:58 pm
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Sr Men
Awesome! I'm glad that we'll have a team this year. Best of luck.
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x41
