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The Goals of Ball HockeyBy Candee Tremblay
Candee@BelizePropertyCenter.com
Six years ago, 400 kids in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge lined up to sign up for the launch of Ball Hockey in the Tri-Cities area. Today, that number has burgeoned to 1500 local, ball hockey players. Ball Hockey’s popularity is easy to sum up according to Dave Leitch, President of Tri-Cities Ball Hockey. “It’s an inexpensive sport to play in comparison to many minor sports. For only $160, players enjoy 16 games in the season. It’s super because anyone can play the game – there is no pre-determined skill set needed. The aim of the game, particularly in our House League, is FUN. It’s a wide open playing field for kids from 5 to 18 years of age. Anyone – and everyone – can enjoy Ball Hockey, including kids with disabilities. We also have over 100 girls who play in the league. Another great thing about the game is that it is not contingent on weather – no games get rained out!”
Equipment costs are negligible, especially if you already play Ice Hockey. As an added bonus for Ice Hockey Players, it’s a super way to keep in shape off-season. However, if you can’t skate, but love the game of hockey, here’s your chance to run with the ball!
Greg Stickle, Head Coach for the Junior division for the “KW Rangers" (the KW representative to the OBHA Provincial tournament) is really pumped about this year’s provincial tryouts – where the best players are recruited from the House leagues to play against other provincial teams, including the “Power Houses of Ball Hockey”, Belleville, Beeton and Penetanguishene. Greg commented “This year, we started 3 weeks earlier with our tryouts, in order to better prepare ourselves to go after the "AA" division title. We invited 30 players and 4 goalies to the four, inter-squad game tryouts. So far, the tryouts have been spirited and very entertaining, making this the most challenging selection yet! We have a lot of talent on the floor, everyone capable of making this team.”
Mitchel Atkins, a 16-year old forward on the RE/MAX Capital’s team (sponsored by local RE/MAX Twin City realtor, Michael Saunders, who is also the Head Coach of the Capitals and the Assistant Coach of the Provincial team) is one of the players really committed to earning a spot on the Provincial team. As a talented ice and ball hockey team player, he said that the most memorable ball hockey moments are not on the rink at all. They’re the moments when you hang out with your friends – at post-game breakfasts and dinners. “When it’s all said and done” Mitch said “the best thing about Ball Hockey is meeting all the new people”. Perhaps, that’s the loftiest goal of Ball Hockey ever.
If you’re ready to make a breakaway to a sport that promotes fun and fellowship as its main goal, log onto www.TriCitiesBallHockey.com or contact Dave Leitch at dave@tricitiesballhockey.com or 519-503-6553.
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