Hash Kanjee has a long history of field hockey excellence. Born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Hash came to Canada in 1972 to pursue a degree in Physical Education at the University of Alberta. Upon graduating in 1976 he moved to Vancouver where he played for the Canadian National team from 1976-1982. During that time, Hash competed for Canada at the international level, playing in the World Cup, Pan-Am Games, and Olympic Qualifier events.
Hash took his first coaching position with the BC Provincial U21 men's squad in 1987. He would also coach the Men's senior squad from 1989-91. With his experience both as a player and as a coach at the national and international levels, Hash began his 21-year career as Head Coach of the Women's Field Hockey team at UBC. Hash had big shoes to fill following coaching greats such as May Brown, Gail Wilson and Bim Schrodt, a challenge Hash took on with quiet energy and aplomb.
Over Hash's career, he amassed an astounding 235-37-29 record. His teams won 14 Canada West Championships (1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and 10 Canadian Interuniversity Sports (U SPORTS) Championships (1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012). Hash was also awarded the Canada West Coach of the Year five times (1995, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011), and won the U SPORTS Coach of the Year three times (1998, 2003 and 2008).
In conjunction with these impressive records, Hash proved his mettle as a coach several times over. In 2010, he led his team to their eighth straight conference crown with an impressive 9-1-2 record, despite only having two starters from the previous team. In 2012, the Thunderbirds went undefeated (12-0-1), including a 3-0 victory over the University of Toronto in the Championship final to capture the program's fourteenth national title.
Many of Hash's players have gone on to play for the Canadian National Field Hockey team including Laura Balakshin, Kim Buker, Ann Harada, Stephanie Hume, Lesley Magnus, Mo O'Connor, Emily Menzies, and Hannah Haughn. Hash has also been an ambassador for the sport of field hockey, embarking on nine international tours with the Thunderbirds to places such as New Zealand and Argentina. Hash also was the force and determination behind the book "Celebrating 100 Years" the history of Women's Field Hockey at UBC written by Lesley Magnus and Hash Kanjee.
Hash retired after the 2011-12 season, his 19th year as Head Coach. However, he was persuaded to return to the bench for two more seasons while UBC Athletics searched for his replacement. Upon his retirement the then Associate Director of Intercollegiate & High Performance Sport at UBC, Theresa Hanson, said of Hash: "Hash has been the heart and soul of our successful women's field hockey program for the past 19 years, it won't be the same without him at the helm. He has been such a positive influence for the sport of field hockey over the years and has truly made a positive difference in the lives of so many student athletes. We will miss him greatly."
