Abigail Raye

Biography

After emigrating from England with her family in December 2005, Abigail Raye attained her Canadian citizenship just in time to play for Canada at the 2009 Pan American Cup. She is now one of the most experienced members of the national team, with more than 130 senior caps to her credit. She was part of the Canadian team that just missed the podium at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara. She has also competed at two Commonwealth Games, in 2010 and 2014. In 2013 she helped Canada win bronze at the Pan American Cup. While playing for the University of British Columbia, she helped the Thunderbirds win three straight national titles (2011-13). She was the CIS Championship Tournament MVP in 2013 after winning the Joyce Slipp Award as the CIS Rookie of the Year for women’s field hockey in 2009.

PERSONAL

Family: Parents David and Susanne… Younger brother George and younger sister Lizzy… Getting into the Sport: Started playing field hockey at age 11… Both parents played and actually met on a field hockey pitch and were engaged while on a field hockey tour… Outside Interests: Graduated from the University of British Columbia in April 2015 with a Bachelor of Kinesiology, Minor in Psychology… Enjoys skiing… Has organized a team for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay 4 Life for two years… Odds and Ends: Favourite mottos: “Noting ventured, nothing gained” and “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission!”… Before each game, always takes a cold shower and spits water onto the pitch saying “My turf!”… Has a good collection of glass Coca-Cola bottles from the different countries she’s played in (the Russian one is her favourite)… Nickname: Abi…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

PAG: 2011 – 4^th

PACup: 2013 – BRONZE, 2009 – 5^th

FIH Champions Challenge II: 2011 – 7^th, 2009 – 6^th

CWG: 2014 – 8^th, 2010 – 6^th