David Bissett (field hockey)

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UBC's field hockey star during the '70's, Bissett captained or vice-captained Canada's National team for eight years. The first Canadian to play 100 international matches, he completed his career with 150, a UBC record. Led Canada to the '76 and '84 Olympics, a Pan-Am gold in '83 plus captained UBC to three Division I titles. He was described by his coach as an "outstanding goal scorer . . . a team man, always positive". A lasting imprint on our local, national and international field hockey landscape has been left by UBC in the form of David Bissett. Starting in 1972 through to 1980 Bissett, a National team player, honed his skills with the Thunderbird field hockey team. His coach both with UBC and the National team, John McBryde, remembers Bissett as “. . . a very talented athlete . . . skillful . . . very tough psychologically, he had a sense of the game.”

This was a golden era of men’s field hockey at UBC as the ‘Birds captured three Vancouver Field Hockey Division I titles during this decade. This league in which UBC competed was perhaps the most competitive in the country as between 1973 and 1981 this league comprised most of the BC provincial team that won six national championships. Bissett was “a definite leader” of these UBC and provincial teams. In 1981 he scored 15 goals in 5 games to lead BC to the Canadian championship undefeated and unscored upon. According to McBryde UBC dominated its club and university competition at this time with Bissett an “. . . outstanding goal scorer for UBC . . . plus a team man, always positive . . . very helpful and supportive.” And while starring on the field during the ‘70s Bissett was also gaining a solid UBC education, attaining his Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1979 and his degree in Law in 1980.

It was more than his skilled play, it was his leadership qualities that stood out during his career. He captained the Thunderbirds, the British Columbia provincial team and the National team during a career that spanned the years 1972 through 1984. Two of his BC teams were Canadian senior national champions and as a National team member from 1972 until ’84 he captained or was vice-captain from ’77 through ’84.

Bissett was captain of the Canadian team that won gold at the ’83 Pan American Games – Canada’s first Pam Am gold medal in field hockey and a personal highlight for Bissett. He was captain of Canada’s team at the ’84 Olympics at Los Angeles and while playing at UBC was a member of Canada’s team at the ’76 Olympics in Montreal – another personal highlight. Bissett also captained the ’78 National team that defeated India, the reigning World Champion, 3–1, at the World Cup at Buenos Aires.

In fact, Bissett is UBC’s dominant international field hockey player. He was the first Canadian to reach 100 international matches (in 1980) and when he retired from competition in ’84 had been capped a total of 150 times, a Canadian record at the time and to this day a UBC international record. This plus the fact he was the National team captain for eight years which included World Cup, Pan Am and Olympic appearances, is testimony to his character and commitment.

After practicing law in Vancouver for close to twenty years David served for three years (until 2004) as Field Hockey Canada men’s National team manager. According to Field Hockey Canada’s Peter D’Cruz, “David has provided countless hours of very professional volunteer work at FHC...and has set a very high standard for future managers of all National teams to follow.” In addition, coach McBryde reveals that, “David has again been very supportive of the UBC men’s team in a mentoring role...and one of the three major donors in the fundraising effort that led to the completion of (UBC’s) Wright Field in 2002.

One of UBC’s best ever players as indicated by his twelve years on the National team encompassing 150 international matches, Bissett continues to this day to demonstrate his commitment and leadership to field hockey both at a UBC and national level.

(Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics historian)