MAUREEN VAN DE VEN

MAUREEN VAN DE VEN

Maureen began playing house league hockey in Bramalea at the age of seven, and within ten short years she experienced the thrill of a lifetime playing as a member of Team Canada in the first-ever Women’s World Hockey Championship.  The Championship took place in North York, Ontario in 1987 over a five-day period, and culminated in Team Canada being crowned the Women’s World Champions.

Prior to the World Championship she was a member of the Hamilton Golden Hawks, a team that won both the 1987 Canadian National Championship and the 1987 Ontario Provincial Championship.  It was this team that represented Canada in the World Championship.  The following year the Golden Hawks were again victorious in winning the gold medal in the Canadian Championship.

In total, Maureen played with the Golden Hawks for six seasons.  She also played four years with the York University Women’s Hockey Team from 1983-86, including her final year as team captain.

Maureen played a total of 12 years with the Brampton Canadettes Girls Hockey Association, during which time she played on several winning teams, including both a Novice and Midget Ontario Provincial Championship in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

In 1988 Maureen was recognized for her world championship hockey achievements with a Brampton Civic Award, along with her Brampton teammates Pat White and Colleen Kohen.

Maureen was a member of the Chinguacousy Girls Minor Softball Association for 15 years, and played on the 1980 Chinguacousy Midget National championship team.  She was a member of the  Chinguacousy Rockets Women's Softball team for 10 years, and was also a member of the Canadian National team that finished fourth in the 1990 Women's World Softball Championship held in Normal, Illinois, USA.

Maureen graduated from York University with Honours in Physical Education in 1986 and completed her Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University the following year. She is presently teaching in Mississauga.

Inducted November 24, 1999