Hockey Nova Scotia's new executive director aims to make sport more inclusive

Hockey Nova Scotia has a new executive director. 

Mike Field, who previously served as the organization's longtime member-services manager, was hired last month.

The Truro, N.S., native played hockey with the Acadia Axemen before graduating from Acadia University in 2001.

Field had been serving as the organization's interim director since the position was vacated in December.

Former director Amy Walsh left the organization to join the Future of Hockey Lab, which works to make the sport more accessible and welcoming to all players.

Field spoke with CBC Radio's Portia Clark about his new permanent role and what he hopes to achieve. 

Their conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

You've been with Hockey Nova Scotia in various capacities for a long time. How did you first get involved?

Yeah, I certainly have. It's been over 20 years now and I certainly don't don't feel that old. I started as a young player, six years old, so was introduced to the sport at a very early age.

And of course, my brother played, but my father was also an administrator as well. He took on the role of president for the Truro Minor Hockey Association. I saw from a young age the volunteer aspect of it through my father's work at home, taking all the calls and handling the day-to-day of running a minor hockey league.

Seeing that, from what I see now, I really appreciate the work that volunteers play in delivering the game to kids.

In this new role, what are you hoping to bring to it at this crucial time in hockey and its development in Nova Scotia?

Yeah, so for me, I have a lot of experience with Hockey Nova Scotia in different roles. I previously held the interim role a couple times and I'm fortunate to be full-time now. But it has