Field Hockey Ontario is happy to share the fifth of many posts in our new series of content titled "Where are they now?" This series will highlight alumni from FHO, their playing, coaching, and umpiring careers, and what they are doing now. We are happy to introduce our fifth individual, Ken O'Connor. 

Please enjoy this write-up on Ken's Field Hockey experience and what he does in the present, as written by Ken himself. 

Field Hockey is Ken’s lifetime sport starting when he was 11 years old in Melbourne, Australia. He has participated as a player, a coach, an administrator, an umpire, and as a technical official for over 60 years.

The highlights of Ken's field hockey career are: 

• Playing in the 1986 World Masters in London 
• Coaching two teams to OFSAA championships
• Umpiring at the 1984 Olympics and the 1990 World Cup (the first Canadian male umpire at each)
• In administration, contributing to the somewhat difficult amalgamation of the Canadian men’s and women’s field hockey associations in 1992 as a member of the joint steering committee
• In a technical role, as a statistician at the 1976 Olympics and the 2015 Pan Am Games

The net result is lots of wonderful memories and friendships across Canada and the USA and around the world. He now keeps in touch with field hockey through his umpire son (Jeremy), the internet, and his role on the FHO Discipline Committee. He is a keen golfer and an avid pickleball player.

Playing 

1955 - 1969: Hawthorn Hockey Club, Scotch College, Old Scotch Hockey Club, and the University of Melbourne, including participating in two Australian university championships.

1970 - 1988:  Huronia, Ookpiks, Team Ontario at two national championships (1971 and 1972), and the World Masters Tournament in London with Ookpiks in 1986.

Coaching

1976 - 1984 and 1986 - 1989: L’Amoreaux C.I. – OFSAA champions 1981 and 1982, coached Sandra Levy, Lisa Lyn, and Joel Brough – Canadian Olympians

1986 - 1992: Toronto Junior Jets with Derek Sandison – two players went on to play for Canada – Scott Sandison and Robin D’Abreo and one player became a Canadian National umpire – Jeremy O’Connor

1990 - 1992: R.H. King C. I. in Scarborough, ON 

1998: The OFSAA Award for Leadership in School Sport

Administration

1970’s and 80’s: Various roles with the Canadian Field Hockey Umpires Association including Presiden

1989 - 1992: Vice President for Umpiring, Canadian Field Hockey Association

1990 - 1992: Member of the Steering Committee for the amalgamation of the CFHA and the CWFHA into Field Hockey Canada

1990 - 1996: Chairperson OFSAA Field Hockey Committee

2014 - Present: Member of FHO Discipline Committee

Umpiring 

1972 - 2013: Canadian National Championships, OUA games and Championships, CIS Championships, OFSAA Championships, Ontario Summer Games, US National Festivals, Disney Showcases, California Cups, and innumerable club and high school games

1978 - 1990: Approximately 75 international matches including the 1990 World Cup, the 1984 Olympic Games, the 1983 and 1987 Pan Am Games, and the 1989 Junior World Cup

Technical

1976: Statistician at the Montreal Olympics

1990 - 2016: TD, TO, Judge at Canadian National Championships

1990 - 2019: Umpire Manager at National Championships, the CAC Games, OFSAA championships, and Disney Showcases

2015: Statistician at the Toronto Pan Am Games