Maddie Hunter of Oak Bay High School is the 2023 winner of the Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship. Maddie has been playing field hockey since the age of four and has been an exceptional athlete, student and sports contributor at such a young age. As a student-athlete Maddie juggled a busy academic schedule along with her high school, high performance (provincial and junior national) commitments. She maintained a 95% grade-point average in both grade 10 and 11, was an Honour Roll student in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and was a member of her school’s athletic leadership group. Maddie has over come a number of hurdles in her athletics career, most notably an ACL tear, but she was able to return in grade 11 to help Oak Bay win the AAA Provincial Championships.

In 2022 Maddie represented Canada on the U18 Next GEN development squad that played in international series in both Philadelphia and France. Maddie has also been a big contributor to the local community serving as a referee and umpire for soccer and field hockey, respectively, as well as a committed and energetic Victoria Junior league coach. Maddie is not only a stand out player, volunteer and student but she is also a kind, humble and valuable teammate and person. Maddie is now in first year competing and training with the UVic Vikes women’s field hockey team.

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About Stephanie Doney Johnston
Stephanie was a graduate of Esquimalt High School where she excelled at Track and Field and Field Hockey. She went on to complete her teaching degree at the University of Victoria where she was a valuable member of the Vikette’s Field Hockey team. During Stephanie’s teaching career she was the coach of several school teams taking them to the provincial championship level.

Stephanie was an active member in the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association right up until she was diagnosed with leukemia.

As an athlete she excelled in all sports, and could turn her hand to anything. She was competitive, hardworking and inspirational and demonstrated good sportsmanship at all times. As a person, she was loving, genuine, generous and beautiful inside and out. As a mother of three small children, she was devoted; as a friend, unforgettable. She died in March 1991 at the age of 39, but her amazing qualities as a person and athlete live on in the memories of her family, friends and students and are valued by the recipients of the Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship.

Each year the Stephanie Johnston (Doney) Memorial Scholarship is awarded at the Bridgman Cup Tournament.

See a list of past winners here: https://www.bridgmancup.com/about