Lynne Beecroft has been known to use every psychological tool at her disposal to motivate her University of Victoria Vikes field hockey dynasty. This time, electronic correspondence from alumni even plays a role.

“I’ve received dozens of moving e-mails from past players this week, wishing us luck in such moving ways, and I plan to share those with my players,” said Beecroft, as she prepared the Vikes for their opening game of the CIS national championship tournament against the Toronto Varsity Blues today at 11:50 a.m. at UVic turf field.

After 26 years of coaching the Vikes program to 11 national titles, Beecroft has built up quite an alumni list that includes several Olympians.

“There is one e-mail from Milena [former Vikes star and Olympian Milena Gaiga] about how she brings her child to swim at the UVic pool and sees us head out to practice and how she can still feel the excitement of it all,” said Beecroft, herself an Olympian and World Cup medallist.

“The notes the past players sent aren’t about the wins we had, but about the friendships that were created by playing. I want my current players to hear that and realize what they will be taking away with them from this experience.”

It is the bond that connects the past with the present and which Beecroft says is so important to her program.

The Vikes are ranked third heading into the national tournament but that doesn’t seem to faze them in the least, especially the veterans who remember winning last year’s national championship despite being the fourth seed.

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind we can do it again,” said Katie Tittler, a fifth-year Vikes player out of Richmond.

“We just have to remember to have fun. I remember before last year’s championship game, we were dancing in the dressing room. When you look around this field and see the 11 championship banners hanging from the fences, it’s motivating but also brings with it some pressure. We find ways to keep it loose.”

Undefeated and top-ranked Guelph plays second-seed UBC in the national championship opener today at 9:30 a.m., followed by the UVic-Toronto fixture, with UBC taking on fifth-seed Alberta at 3:30 p.m. and Guelph playing fourth-seed Toronto at 5:50 p.m. to close out the day.

Round-robin action continues 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday with the top-two clubs advancing to the national championship game Sunday at 1 p.m.