Madeline Skeans didn’t grow up with a stick in hand. She grew up in Calgary, surrounded by mountains, immersed in sports, and pulled in a dozen directions before field hockey even crossed her periphery.
Now four years into her Varsity Blues career, Skeans is a starting midfielder with international chops for Canada, a life sciences student balancing pharmacology with pre-med ambitions, and a quiet force of leadership both on and off the pitch.
Beginnings in field hockey
Skeans grew up a competitive swimmer and trained in cross-country, and track and field. She began playing field hockey in her last three years of high school, and had even planned to join U of T as a dual-sport athlete in field hockey and track and field.
It wasn’t until a stress fracture in grade 12 derailed her track plans that she turned her full focus to field hockey. That year, she made her international debut at the U18 Canada-America series. “[That tour in Philly] is one of my biggest core memories… playing with girls from all over the country was so cool […] seeing there was a competitive pathway forward, I was like, wow, I would like to be a part of this.”
With her mother being a former Queen’s field hockey player and Calgary’s field hockey community being quite tight-knit, Skeans found the guidance she needed. At Legacy Academy, a then-new program in Alberta, she trained under coach Nick Hignell, whom she credits for preparing her to play internationally and at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) level.
Connections between sports and academics
As a pharmacology and physiology major, Skeans has always seen school as her priority. Her long-term dream is to become a pediatrician, and her academic load would intimidate most. Still, she sees connections between both sides of her life, academics and sports. Studying sleep science and recovery has been especially helpful. “That’s such a gear shift to make… working harder doesn’t necessarily mean more hours. [It] probably means going to bed and setting yourself up for performance, both academically and athletically,” she said in an interview with The Varsity.
Skeans is also well-balanced outside of sports and academics. She is the co-president of U of T’s Marathon Club and works as a tutor in the Student-Athlete Support Program, mentoring younger students in pharmacology and chemistry.
Joining the Varsity Blues
Skeans did not arrive in Toronto as a starter. Her first season involved reserve minutes and learning the system. But over time, her game matured, and by 2024, she was taking on more of a leadership role and starting regularly in the midfield.
“It is not just about being on the field. Everyone has a role to play, and it’s about how you show up day in and day out to support your teammates to play to their potential.” She sees leadership not as shouting from the front but as keeping the group connected, motivated, and cohesive. “[When] we won the OUA championships and then played U SPORTS… we had a lot of really senior, really talented girls… my second year self would say the coolest thing they did was just bring the team together.
Playing for Team Canada
International play has added another dimension to Skeans’ identity. From Chile to Japan to Australia, she’s competed against top global programs, singing “O Canada” with teammates on fields thousands of kilometres from home.
“It is every athlete’s dream to represent your sport and your country at the highest level that you can… when you get to stand on the pitch, side to side with 20 girls and sing a national anthem in front of a crowd… that’s a pretty neat feeling. If I could chase that feeling for the rest of my life, I would.”
Most recently, Skeans was named to the 2025 International Hockey Federation (FIH) Women’s Junior World Cup roster, and is set to represent Canada again in December.
She recalls adjusting to the pace, tactics, and language barriers of international play. She remembers the thrill of mid-game adaptations, when the team worked as one unit without waiting for coaching instructions. “The level of dedication that people bring to the sport, across the world… It shows up in different playing styles, and it shows up in different post-game traditions… you’re playing against people that are speaking a different language than you, [which can be intimidating].”
Skeans still has goals in field hockey. She hopes to play in Europe or complete a gap-year season abroad. Her second U21 World Cup in Chile will mark a turning point — a capstone to her youth career, and possibly a launchpad to future national team opportunities.
Whether on turf or in a lab coat, Skeans is clear about her mission. In aspiring to lead with purpose, support those around her, and chase big goals with humility, she’s already left the Blues better than she found them.
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