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Having earned a podium finish in every ISBHF Women’s World Hockey Championship tournament, Canada looks to maintain such standing with another strong performance in 2019. Capturing the bronze medal at the 2017 edition of the Worlds with an intense defeat of archrival Slovakia, the gathering of Canadian stars is eager to return in the conversation for the gold medal. Led by General Manager Sara Hayward, whose assiduous efforts have included service with the Canadian contingent at the ISBHF Masters, along with a key leadership role at the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) Nationals, she has assembled a roster in collaboration with Paul Beale, Mandi Duhamel, who also served as a head coach for Canada at the 2018 IBSHF Worlds, plus Kevin Hughes. Schedule Canada vs. Slovakia – Friday, June 14th @ 3:00pm Canada vs. Great Britain – Sunday, June 16th @ 2:30pm Canada vs. Czech Republic – Monday, June 17th @ 2:45pm Canada vs. U.S.A. – Tuesday, June 18th @ 5:00pm Roster Goalkeepers: Nathalie Girouard, Julianna ThomsonDefense: Kara Brumm, Kristen Cooze, Melanie Jue, Nicole Latreille, Michelle Marsz, Cailen McLean, Tara SwansonForwards: Edie Brenning, Angie Cerilli, Elysia Desmier, Aprill Drake, Kendra Dunlop, Reagan Fischer, Sarah Francis, Chelsea Karpenko, Jessie McCann, Giuliana […]

We at the ISBHF hope that everyone has had a good start to 2021 and is staying safe! In this brand new regular monthly series, we will be bringing you news from the ISBHF – this time for the month of January! Message from ISBHF President At the beginning of the year, ISBHF President George Gortsos has delivered a message to the ball hockey community. In a short video interview, he evaluated 2020, how he missed the best ISBHF Junior and Masters athletes competing at our regular summer events, and how the ISBHF had adjusted in a challenging year. George ended on a positive note, giving hope that we will soon meet at the rinks! The full video is available here: Rules and Regulations Update The ISBHF Technical Committee was very active in 2020, updating outdated rules and regulations, so that the ISBHF is ready for the events of the future. A new Rulebook – 2021 Version has been finalised and distributed to all ISBHF Members. But what are the biggest changes in the 2021 Rulebook? Line changes are no longer permitted after flooring in Men’s, Women’s, U-20 Men’s and U-18 Men’s categoriesA new penalty type Late Hit has been […]

By Mark Staffieri During a distinguished decade that has seen Elysia Desmier establish herself as a mainstay on Canada’s national women’s ball hockey team, a quintet of appearances at the IBSHF World Championships represents a precious pinnacle. Enjoying a podium finish in each appearance, the most recent may have been the most satisfying. Following a bronze medal at the 2017 edition of the Worlds, an unexpected result, compounded by the fact that the proud Canadian roster suffered its first-ever loss to the United States in tournament history, the subsequent two years were predicated on redemption. In pure storybook fashion, a riveting rematch took place on the grandest stage in ISBHF play. With Kosice, Slovakia, serving as the backdrop, the gold medal game at the 2019 Worlds consisted of Canadian and their American opponents renewing rivalries, bringing a thrilling decade of the female game to a thrilling denouement. “2017 felt like unfinished business. The loss in the semifinals didn’t sit right with me. The game was in our hands and for whatever reason it just slipped away. I knew this year’s world championships were gold or bust. We were not settling for anything less. This group of women put their all […]

Dear ISBHF Ball Hockey Family, Due to the ongoing global pandemic and the challenges nations face on a daily basis, the ISBHF Board of Directors has decided that ISBHF events scheduled in 2020 will not take place. I understand that this is an unprecedented decision and harsh reality for everyone in the ISBHF family, and particularly the amazing 2020 Events Organizing Committees who were ready to host wonderful events for all players, coaches, staff, referees, parents and fans to enjoy. However, as stated from the outset, the health and safety of everyone in the ISBHF is our highest priority. I personally thank all of our international Board of Directors members representing their nations for their input and wisdom, ultimately deciding on what is right for our sport. Please be informed that the ISBHF is already working on its 2021 and 2022 events calendar, and an announcement will be released in early May. I wish good health to you, your loved ones and everyone in the ISBHF family. I know we will support each other as we go through these challenging times, and will come back stronger and ready to enjoy the events of the future. Best regards, George GortsosPresidentInternational Street […]

The Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) announced that their Board of Directors has named Brandon, Manitoba and the Manitoba Ball Hockey Association (MBHA) as the Host Community and Host CBHA Member for the 2021 International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) World Ball Hockey Championship. Brandon was selected from among four (4) official bids under consideration, with the other bids being from Calgary (Alberta), Laval(Quebec), and St. John’s (Newfoundland and Labrador). The site selection process began in May of 2019 and had over 20 communities and groups from across Canada expressing an interest to host. “We were thrilled with the quality of all the bids we received and considered,” commented CBHA President Steve Power. “The Brandon bid demonstrated to us a great venue plan, solid business plan with committed support from various partners, and some unique concepts to allow for Team Canada to have the best chance for success at the World Championship. All bids were impressive, but we know we chose a great partnership with Brandon and the MBHA.” “Brandon is thrilled to work in concert with the CBHA and MBHA to bring incredible ball hockey back to both our city and country and we look forward to hosting together this […]

Have a look at the official 2019 ISBHF World Ball Hockey Championships Schedule!

You’ve been training for two years since the last World Championship. The competition is finally on the horizon. In 3 months you and your teammates will be facing off against the World’s best ball hockey players from around the globe. You’ve been careful with your training progression, your nutrition, your rest and your vices. All of these, in an effort to decrease your risk of injury and increase your strength & conditioning gains. Everything seems to be falling into place…with the exception of your motivation and a few concerning aches and pains. What are your options? Push through the pain as you only have a few weeks left, ignoring the discomfort and continuing on your strict training regimen? Or take a few weeks off to recover? This is the decision that has gone through every single athlete’s mind. “How can I be getting hurt now? Is this the early stages of injury?! I haven’t played a game in weeks, I’ve been eating clean. I haven’t had a (dozen) beer in days; I’ve been very rigorous with my attention to detail in the gym, for the past 18 months”. Well, the answer lies in the last words of the last comment. […]

2020 marks another busy year in the ISBHF calendar. As usual, the even years are dedicated to Juniors and Masters. Teams of exciting prospects and legends of the game will meet to compete and determine which nations will take the medals to their home country. The 2019 ISBHF Annual Conference has approved the hosting nations for 2020 and the exact dates and venues have been agreed on between the ISBHF and Organising Committees at subsequent meetings. 2020 will begin strong by another exciting event held in the Czech Republic – the Men’s & Women’s Masters Championships. Between June 17-21, the veterans, some of the best players in history of our sport, will fight for their nations in the modern Budvar Arena in České Budějovice. České Budějovice, the historic capital of the South Bohemian region, will welcome its visitors with its majestic main square and picturesque architecture as well as the distinct and original Budweiser Budvar lager. The Budvar Arena is a renovated, world-class two-rink facility, offering enough capacity for nations to send 2 teams in each category. Who will take gold home from the world-class Budvar Arena? After 5 years, ISBHF action will return to under the Alps – Switzerland. The World U20 & U18 Junior […]

In Beijing, Coaching Certification Course puts Ball Hockey on the Map for International Schools in China! The sport of ball hockey has taken another huge step forward in its growth in China recently, as 18 teachers from 10 international schools in Beijing were the first coaches in China to receive certification from the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF). Teachers took part in a Coaching Certification Program on November 10th, at Beijing’s ORG arena, which provided them theoretical and practical training in order to deliver a ball hockey program to students. Can Life Sports Founder Curtis Dracz and professional coach and Team China Ball Hockey player Michael Kusy led the course, while former NHL player Todd Elik was the keynote presenter. Elik spent eight years in the NHL and now acts as the General Manager of Beijing Junior Kings. Ball hockey is often seen as an economical way to introduce youth to the game of hockey. It also serves as a great way for existing ice hockey players to gain training off the ice. In addition to the coaches’ training, the host company Can Life Sports offers its support to the coaches and their schools with drills, rules, and […]

The Slovak Ball Hockey Union (SHBÚ) and the Slovak Ice Hockey Association (SZĽH) have signed a co-operation agreement. This has begun the so-called process of combining the efforts of both elite hockey sports. The treaty was recently signed by the presidents of both unions, Martin Kohút and Jozef Stümpel, at the SZLH headquarter. “We are pleased to have signed this long-term agreement. Ball Hockey is a complementary sport of many ice hockey players and many ice-hockey players are seen on ball hockey rinks, so the synergies are enormous and I believe that our cooperation will mainly serve both sports to evolve and grow,” Kohút said after signing the contract. Ice hockey and ball hockey will also work together in the field of marketing and advertising, which will also be reflected in organizing the 2019 ISBHF World Ball Hockey Championships being held in Košice after the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships. “The closest goals are the world championships, where ice hockey and ball hockey will be very well presented. I believe we will achieve successes, but we do not look at our cooperation in the short term. It’s a forward-looking move, and cooperation is essential. The future will show that we […]

The 2019 ISBHF Annual General Meeting will be held in Great Britain on January 24-27. Our warmest thanks go to Ball Hockey UK, an organisation that has become a genuine powerhouse within the ball hockey family of nations. Their offer to host the Conference was received with excitement – the ISBHF looks forward to meet in Great Britain once again! Delegates will arrive in Sheffield on Thursday, January 24th and meet on Friday, January 25th in the iceSheffield arena, which hosted the 2016 ISBHF World Junior Championships. On the following day, the ISBHF representatives will visit the BHUK Tier 1 Winter Tournament held in Sheffield before travelling to Scotland. It will be the first visit of the ISBHF Board to Scotland, where the BHUK Scottish Conference has seen tremendous development and is among the fastest growing leagues in the world. The attending delegates will look back at the achievements of 2018, with four tournaments hosted in three continents, and discuss upcoming events and the development of the sport going forward! The weekend promises to be another milestone for ball hockey, so make sure you stay tuned for the news from Great Britain!

The ISBHF continues to bring the great game to the furthest corners of the planet, with India being the most recent addition to its growing list of active nations! Having India now developing and promoting ball hockey within its borders represents a major breakthrough for ball hockey growth globally. You’ve seen snippets of video on the ISBHF Facebook feed, but how did this actually take place? This past September, Mr. Wayne Chow from Hong Kong travelled to Chandigarh, India on behalf of the ISBHF, to host the 1st National India Ball Hockey Training Seminar. Mr. Chow was met by by the Messrs. Parminder Singh of the Ball Hockey Association of Chandigarh and Waseem Raju Khan of India’s governing ball hockey body, the India Ball Hockey Federation. The four day ball hockey seminar and training camp was led by Mr. Chow, with 150 players both male and female and coaches from 22 Indian States attending. Enthusiast attendees new to ball hockey were first given a three day course on hockey fundamentals, rules & regulations, individual and team skills and drills, and basic refereeing knowledge combined with time spent outdoors honing basic individual hockey skills. The stage was set for the fourth day when all […]

The has much to look back on since the ISBHF formation in 1993. A tremendous amount of selfless, dedicated work has been contributed and accomplished by so many of our volunteers over the years. One such amazing example of tireless effort was made by Jean Marie Larochelle of Quebec this past March, when he travelled to North Korea as an ambassador for ISBHF and in the process, linked up with none other than Hayley Wickenheiser on the ice for exhibition matches with the North Korea National Ice Hockey Team. Myself, I reside in South Korea and have been living here since 2008. And in 2016 I had the opportunity of travelling to North Korea and running its annual international marathon while exploring this incredible, yet largely misunderstood ‘hermit’ nation. It is an amazing country to experience and much more accessible through tourism than many people may realize. Here is our recent interview with Jean Marie, and the inspiring photos as well. We hope you enjoy it. On behalf of the ISBHF, we thank Jean Marie for bringing our emerging sport to the furthest corner of the world, and the ISBHF encourages others to step up and find your own unique […]

The city of Košice, Slovakia, will host the 2019 ISBHF World Championships. From June 14th to 22nd, the fans will witness what promises to be another fascinating festival of ball hockey. ISBHF President George Gortsos said: ‘Coming off the excellence, electric passion and success of our past ISBHF World Championships, I am proud that the ISBHF family and our caravan of nations are gathering once again – bringing players, coaches, support staff, referees and many fans to beautiful Slovakia and the city of Košice for our 13th ISBHF World Championship.’ The Steel Arena, with a capacity of 8,347, is a magnificent venue and will serve as a stage for some of the greatest moments in ball hockey history. The ISBHF sincerely thanks the Slovak Ball Hockey Union and Košice for hosting the tournament. ‘We look forward to seeing our many nations in Košice. And I can tell you, they are all preparing as of this moment and are very excited to be coming to the beautiful city. On behalf of all our nations, we thank the Slovak Ball Hockey Union and the city of Košice for hosting our large contingent one year from this date,’  Gortsos concluded. Follow the Košice […]

On March 21st 2018, 75 girls from seven different secondary schools in Hong Kong competed in the second annual Girls’ Ball Hockey tournament. This year’s one day tournament followed on the heels of HK’s first full U20 Girls Ball Hockey season which ran weekly games from October to February alongside the existing U20 Boys division. These tournaments, and the leagues, are jointly organized and run by a group of volunteers. Below, three new ball hockey players from Victoria Shanghai Academy, Audrey, Angelina, & Kate, as well as our graduating team captain, Michelle, gave their thoughts, and collected those of others, on the topic of the Girls Ball Hockey experience in Hong Kong. Audrey, 14 years old: This was my first hockey competition and I was on the White team. I was very thrilled to be able to get into the finals in my first hockey tournament yet I was a little anxious as well as I didn’t actually know what I was supposed to do and I think many people who first do something can be a little worried to do it correctly. If you ever experienced that, that was how I felt when my team got to the finals. […]

The Beauty of our Sport Hello ball hockey fans, my name is Scott Steele or Steelsy, the newest member to the ISBHF’s Marketing Team. In 2018, I will be writing on behalf of the ISBHF on various topics including but not limited to, pre/mid/post game nutrition & general nutrition, supplements, both player and goalie game day routines along with weight training, cardio, goalie specific training and goalie gear/setups. A quick bio about myself: I have been a member of the BBHA (Bermuda Ball Hockey Association) for the last eight years. I was a defenseman for the first two year and have been a goaltender for the last six. In 2013, I got the opportunity to train with the Bermuda national team in preparation of the ISBHF World Championships in St. John’s, Canada where Team Bermuda won the B Pool Championship. That training camp was the catalyst to my ball hockey career and since then, I have had the unique opportunity and privilege to represent Bermuda in the 2014 ISBHF Caribbean Cup in the Cayman Islands, the 2014 ISBHF Masters Championship in Tampa Bay, USA, the 2015 ISBHF World Championships in Zug, Switzerland and the 2017 ISBHF World Championships in Pardubice, […]

Welcome, my name is Daniel Harmes – Strength & Conditioning Manager for the ISBHF. Throughout the next few articles beginning in 2018, I am going to give you an insight into the world of off-court training methods, alongside all of the other regimens and resources that can take all players to the next level of performance! An Overview: Individual Goals: this should be completed through discussing with your player the areas of performance that they feel they need to improve upon, and for you to provide the feedback and direction necessary to show players the areas and role/s that they play within the team structure; providing a clear understanding of what is expected from them in the role/s. Team Goals: every team session should be to the benefit of all players. Not every player will need to always improve in the same areas of the game, but this is the reason why the above point is so critically important.  The work accomplished in the group training sessions should be executed in a way that requires guidance with such as plyometrics. Goaltender Specific: in many sports the goaltender often receives inadequate training attention, with drills and exercise often geared toward the […]

With the calendar year 2017 serving as one filled with numerous milestones for the women’s game, it simultaneously served as the extension of a growing legacy. The ISBHF World Championships in Pardubice was defined by an event filled with historic firsts, consisting of dramatic excitement and a sense of attainment for all countries involved. While host country Czech Republic emerged with a gold medal, the third country to gain gold on home soil, their opponent featured an ambitious group of American competitors reaching the championship game for the first time in program history. The road to the plateau of the finals also involved the US defeating Canada, another tournament first. Pardubice was part of an eventful series of achievements, definitely signifying a paradigm shift. Of note, Alicia Furletti-Blomberg from the Italian team, plus goaltender Rachel Jackson with Great Britain, became the first players from these respective countries to place players on the All-Tournament Team. In addition, the bronze medal game featured Canada and Slovakia renewing rivalries. The result for the losing team would be finishing out of the medals for the first time ever. Perhaps no other country embodied this sense of history like the US, attaining its first-ever podium […]

​ I’ve finally emptied out all the Czech crowns from my wallet and attempted to wash the post-tournament celebration stains out of my once-white Converse. I’ve found more Czech bills in pants pockets than I know what to do with, and every time I’ve gotten into the elevator in my apartment, I half expect it to be full of my screaming teammates. I also half expect it to get stuck or open on the wrong floor… No longer am I eating Nutella on bread or cereal with lukewarm milk for breakfast. I am not doing the spin cycle manually in the bathtub to wash my clothes. What a shock it was to stick a cup in the fridge door and get to choose WHICH kind of ice I wanted. And I don’t even know what to do with the AC; I feel like I’m in subzero temperatures inside my apartment. What an amazing experience. Though it’s hard to pick the top experience of your lifetime while you’re still experiencing life, I’d have to say that this one is ranked pretty high up there. It all started almost a year ago during that first camp in Boston. We showed up, ready to get on the rink and […]

It was 2009 that Finland first took part in the ISBHF World Championships. Since that time Finland has participated in four World Championships and its respectable 7th place finish in 2011 is its best performance so far. Up until this year Finland had been without a national federation with many obstacles having stood in the way to establishment. But May 2nd, 2017 witnessed the founding of the Finnish Ball Hockey Association and a major step forward as a very respected world hockey nation. The Finnish Federation is making steps and for now possesses three teams; Peräpohjolan Poropojat, Siivikkalan Pelikassit and the HC Kings which based in Vantaa, a city just 20 km from Helsinki. The HC Kings also competed in the ISBHF World Cup for Clubs in Heilbronn in 2016. The first National Championships will be played in Finland next summer with the hope of having at least four teams at that time as a fourth team has expressed their interest to the federation. Johannes Pukema stated that the ultimate goal in Finland is to develop every year and to have a stronger Finnish national team ready for 2019 in Slovakia. That with the support of the federation, that additional […]

As we head into the month of November the ISBHF ball hockey community is hard at work and play; Euro leagues are just hitting their stride and training is well under way for our junior players.  But for the ISBHF and our Board of Directors (BOD), we are planning; hard at work collaborating with the Committees that will be holding events for the players of the world in 2018.  The Czech Republic and Canada will be hosting the best young players in the world.  If you are an aspiring youth player then this is your destination; to experience a phenomenal hockey atmosphere and play the best young players in our sport from the ISBHF family.  You must be in the Czech Republic or Canada! We as a Board are very proud also that we will have our first ever U-20 Girls Championship in the Czech Republic.  We feel that this is a huge step forward for our Women’s game and its future growth & stability; and one that signals another step in our evolution. We have a hard working Organizing Committee from Bermuda already planning for the first ever World Championship on its sandy shores, as it is set to host the ISBHF World Masters.  We are working closely […]

On the 23rd September 2017 the new ball hockey season in Switzerland started with nine teams. For the last two years, the highest Swiss division counted but seven teams. When Switzerland changed in 2015 from the old 4 vs 4 system without offside to 5 vs 5 with offside not all teams playing in the national league A had a rink big enough for the new style of playing. Other teams felt unfit for the challenge and decided to play in the national league B. Now, two years later things have changed for the better. New rinks were built, often with the support of the local community or town. Clubs have being restructured to get ready for the 5 vs 5 version. The National League A will reach its target size of ten teams most likely in one year’s time. But let’s have a closer look on the championship that kicked off just a few weeks ago. The difference between the teams in the top league is huge. The best Swiss teams are not much weaker than the best Czech or the best Slovak teams. But there are not that many top teams. The weaker teams in the National League […]

Deserving of the moniker “living legend”, Silvia Traversa is one of the most dedicated players to have worn the Team Canada jersey. With the 2017 edition of the ISBHF Worlds representing her fifth appearance for Canada, it was an extension of a sensational legacy. One of British Columbia’s greatest ball hockey players, the Vancouver-raised player would follow up the experience in Pardubice, Czech Republic by helping her club team, known as the Whalers, capture the provincial ball hockey championship, qualifying again for the CBHA Nationals. Gaining the tournament’s MVP and Top Scorer awards, it was an impressive feat that accentuated her Team Canada experience. An annual fixture with British Columbia’s entry at the CBHA nationals, each subsequent event adds another level of impact and prestige to Traversa’s body of work. Having first played ball hockey in 2003 with the Calgary Kaos, (she also played for the Calgary Oval X-Treme ice hockey team at the Esso Women’s Nationals). Undoubtedly, 2017 was no different, as it allowed Traversa the opportunity to reach another prestigious peak. As the ISBHF Worlds were held less than a month before Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations, there was a strong feeling of national pride for Traversa. Having already experienced […]

The ISBHF would not be where it is today, without the devotion and perseverance that has come to define the allegiance of representatives, volunteers, coaches, players, fans and countless others who continue to dedicate themselves to the growth of the great game worldwide. We are extraordinarily proud to pay tribute to four individuals who stood out amoung the numerous others and have dedicated themselves to furthering the sport of ball hockey over their lifetime. International PLAYER(S) of the year. Two players were deserving of this prestigious award in 2016; Nathan Yetman was one of the many leaders on Team Canada at last year’s ISBHF World U-20 Championship. Amongst the top scorers throughout the entire tournament he earned the role of Assistant Captain. His hard work, determination and great team play was noticed by all in attendance at the event. Off the floor Nathan was a key team mate bring the Canadian team together very quickly at the event, leading by example in everything he does! Thanks to his efforts the Canadian squad enjoyed great success at the event. Marcel Cíbik was introduced to street & ball during seniors’ training as a 7-8 year-old boy.  As a 10 year old, he […]

Terrific write-up in the Royal Gazette of Bermuda summarizing the recent visit to the beautiful island by George Gortsos, ISBHF President: http://www.royalgazette.com/sport/article/20170816/bermuda-bid-to-host-top-ball-hockey-tournament ISBHF fans and players alike…stay tuned for more!

Have you ever imagined playing in a competitive ball hockey tournament on an oceanfront rink on an island as beautiful as picturesque Bermuda? That dream is now a reality with the first ever Bermuda Ball Hockey Classic being hosted from Sept 28th – Oct 2nd, 2017 by the Bermuda Ball Hockey Association! Open division, $500 per team, minimum 6 games and more importantly than that –> the opportunity to hoist the inaugural Bermuda Cup! You better believe the pops would taste a whole lot sweeter in Bermuda after a championship win like that. There have been rumblings in the international ball hockey community that Bermuda may be planning something big for 2018, and the Bermuda Ball Hockey Classic could be a great showcase to something bigger on the horizon. Contact Mathieu Desjardins for more information (desjarde@hotmail.com) and the ISBHF both fully endorses, supports and congratulates the Bermuda Ball Hockey Association for stepping up to offer the International community the opportunity to participate in such an exciting, and rewarding, lifetime experience! For further information on the BBHA, feel free read on for a great summary of the terrific history from Bermuda: Ball hockey in Bermuda started in the 1980’s by a loosely […]

Dear ISBHF Members, Recently there has been a fraudulent email circulating in which it appears that a Fundly account was created for the purpose of soliciting funds from ISBHF members. We believe that all of our members would recognize the fraudulent nature of this solicitation. It’s unfortunate that a third party would use the ISBHF name for this type of purpose, and we would like to assure members that in no way would an NGO Sporting Organziation solicit its members or make requests of any kind on behalf of a third party. You can see the pic here describing the solicitation. Thank you to all of our members & let’s stay sharp out there. – ISBHF

Canada enters the championship game against a raucous crowd and knowing that they have not won a world title since 2007. Despite being the two-time defending world champions, Slovakia beat the host Czechs the night before in a draining game that is going to be difficult to recover from. Slovakia stormed out and incredibly, took a 3-0 lead at the 7:22 mark of the first period. Canada answered right back with goals 30 seconds apart from Larencelle and Martel to cut the lead to one. Despite hitting two posts, Canada managed two goals in a wild opening period. On a Slovak powerplay midway through the 2nd, Barlow made arguably the save of the tournament on a Slovak breakaway shorthanded, and this would be telling as Canada fired two powerplay goals soon after to pull ahead 4-3. Milan Rampacek tied it with a minute left in the 2nd period for the host Czechs. Barlow was outstanding in the 3rd period for Canada, as he turned away several high quality chances. But it wasn’t until Canada was forced to take back to back penalties with minutes to go that Slovakia was able to score the game winner on the powerplay. It was […]

Greece knocked off the United States in overtime in a major upset in the quarterfinal and looked to continue their Cinderalla run at the 2017 championships. The Czech Republic was just coming off of an emotional loss to their rivals, the Slovaks, just 15 hours earlier but looked to use the home crowd advantage to capture bronze. Lukus Soukup wasted no time getting to work for the home side, as he put the first shot of the game two minutes in for the Czechs and they were off and running. Peter Arkalis answered right back for Greece less than a minute later on a backhander in front of the net and the game was tied. Tomas Kudela converted on the powerplay soon after however, and the Czechs were back up by one. Midway through the second after the Czechs were up 3-1, Nicolas Pitsikoulis scored to cut the lead to one once again and the homeside found themselves defending against a tie game. Tomas Wrobel put the Czechs up by two minutes later but Greece again came back with a goal from Kevin Kuzmarski just a minute into the 3rd to cut the lead to one. This would prove to be […]

Hong Kong was the smallest team in the tournament but arguably the fastest and they found their chemistry heading into the gold medal match with a great team from Great Britain. Both teams traded penalties in a scoreless first, and then Hong Kong got to work on special teams in the 2nd, scoring a shorthanded and powerplay goal to pull ahead 2-0 heading into the 3rd period. They added another in the 3rd, and went on to win 3-0 on the back of Matt Lui’s 3rd shutout of the Championship! Lokki Kwan, captain of Hong Kong, spoke to the importance of playing together before the championship and taking that team chemistry forward in such an intense week of games!

Expectations were high for both North American women’s teams heading into the first semi-final on Day 8 of action. After an opening day loss to Slovakia, Canada has reeled off four consecutive victories in convincing fashion. The U.S. women’s team stormed back to beat Italy 2-1 in their opener and have played with confidence since that time. Elysia Desmer got Canada going just 5:47 in with a bullet to the top shelf and Canada was off and running. Desmer got loose down the right side minutes later and tried to go upstairs but Bekkering would have none of it. Foley from the U.S. had a wide open net at the 10 minute mark but the shot sailed over the crossbar, and the U.S. kept pressing. Canada’s leading scorer Rattray got in on a clear breakaway midway through the second but couldn’t manage to beat Bekkering. After a penalty early in the 3rd, Canada found itself down two and the U.S. wasted no time tying the game when Kelly Foley put home a rebound in front. After another penalty to the U.S., they were back on another 5-3 but Canada managed to pull through this time and kill it off. Canada […]

Jozef Stümpel, the President of the Slovak Ball Hockey Federation, confirmed that Slovakia will host the 2019 World Championships. The venue will be announced later this year. The Slovak Ball Hockey Federation, the ISBHF and the whole ball hockey world looks forward to the ISBHF World Championships in 2019!

Canada enters the final group stage game with one scenario in mind: win and they overtake the Czechs for first place overall. The Czechs have won their first four games by a combined score of 22-1 and look to feed off of the home crowd during the primetime showdown with Canada. Michelle Marsz wasted no time getting to work for Canada on the powerplay just 1:27 in, as she beat the Czech goalie Zechovska clear from the point over the left shoulder. Despite the early goal Zechovska shined for the Czech women making two huge saves mid-way through the first off of Canadian rushes keeping the Czech women in it. And towards the end of the first the Czech women were rewarded with a two-man advantage but unable to cash in despite a number of shots. Mid-way through the second period, Canada found itself in penalty trouble again, and the Czechs nearly had the equalizer as they rang the left post. Sugiyama for Canada stood up to the challenge as the Czech women really pressed but the Canadian keeper kicked out two shots on the same sequence. Canada’s top gun Jamie Lee Rattray stepped it up in the 3rd, generating […]

Canada enters day 4 with 6 points total; following up their opening day loss to Slovakia with wins against the U.S. and the U.K. Italy looks for its first regulation win following tough battles on its opening three days at the World Championships. Canada had possession early but it wasn’t until the 10:18 mark of the first when April Drake broke through. Sarah Francis put Canada up by two 7:26 into the second after a hard shot from the right side. Canada’s goalie Sugiyama’s turn to shine came midway through the 2nd but she was up to the challenge as the Italians put on the pressure. Just 15 seconds into the 3rd period the Italians came to life again with Alicia Furletti-Blomberg scoring to put the Italian bench into a frenzy. Tamara Pickford came right back for Canada three minutes later to restore the lead and Devon Skeats scored the final goal of the game for Canada midway through the 3rd. Canada now faces the host Czechs tomorrow night in what should be a terrific matchup. Italy will face Slovakia on Day 5 of women’s action.

Hong Kong enters the early morning game against Lebanon with one objective in mind: get a clean win and they’re through to the B pool semi-finals. Lebanon has fought hard and showed poise in their matches being their first trip to the World Championships. They look for their first win. Despite both teams trading penalties early on, neither could capitalize on the ensuring powerplays. Hong Kong finally broke through late in the first. Lokki Kwan broke down the right side and snapped a high shot over the shoulder of the Lebanon keeper Malkoun with 2:41 to go. Justin Reid made it 2-0 with four minutes left in the 2nd and despite consistent pressure from Lebanon throughout, Hong Kong opened the floodgates early in the 3rd. Lokki Kwan put home his second of the game off a rebound from a shot from the slot to make it 3-0. Clayton Chia made it 4-0 soon after on the power play and Jonathan Yueh tallied the final of the game with a snapper off the rush with about six minutes to go. Hong Kong never looked back and went on to win 5-0. Hong Kong now waits to find out if they play […]

France enters the game against the Cayman Islands as the top seeded team in the B1 Pool, however Cayman Islands has proven that they came to Pardubice ready to play, finishing 2nd in the B2 Pool. France wasted no time getting on the scoresheet as Alexander Leroux finished off an attack from the neutral zone just minutes into the game and France was off and running. France continued to press and were rewarded with a powerplay marker midway through the first with Proutat burying the winner. Cayman Islands regouped after the first period and started to apply pressure to Lion in the French net, but he stood large early in the second. Five minutes later Ryan Pull cut the lead to one on a 4-4 situation. The game continued to get chippy from this point and on an ensuing 4 on 4 situation, France’s speed took over as they pulled ahead 3-1. It was 4-1 after the second, and Jess Tanguy made it 5-1 early on in the 3rd. Ryan pull showed that he is one of the fastest in the B pool as he ripped down the right side mid-way through the 3rd with a nice deke making it […]

Canada enters this game after a 4-3 shootout victory on opening day over Greece, followed up with a convincing 7-1 rout of Finland just the day before. India lost their opener 3-1 to a tough Slovakia squad but followed it up with a 3-0 shutout of Greece less than 24 hours earlier. Canada showed no signs of fatigue on the quick turnaround as they pounced early at 5:33 with Danick Martel opening the score after a drive down the right side and a wrister over the glove of the Indian keeper Mangat. Despite a couple of penalties to Canada mid-way through the first, the penalty kill units and their keeper Barlow fought it off and soon after that Canada found itself on the power play. Brian Szolga then found the back of the net on a nice feed from Power and Canada went up 2-0. Early in the second after an unsportsmanlike penalty to India, Danick Martel went top shelf on a one-timer from Jordan Escott for his second of the game. India continued to work in the second, but Barlow continued to turn away quality chances. After a slashing call to Brar late in the second, Canada notched its […]

In the final B Pool game of the opening round, Haiti and Hong Kong clashed with important implications on the line. A win for Haiti would drop Hong Kong to fourth in their division while Hong Kong could salvage third with a clean win. Haiti was coming off a hard fought 1-0 win over Armenia while Hong Kong had incredibly, erased two third period 3-0 deficits only to lose their matches against Armenia and the Cayman Islands respectively in shootouts. Captain Paul-Arthur Plasir opened the scoring for Haiti in the first period and they never looked back. Haiti tallied three more in the second with the Plaisir brothers each scoring once, and Cherubin also found the back of the net. Hong Kong looked to make another comeback in the third, with Son Pham scoring from the point on a 5-3 power play early on. The play continued to get chippy as the period progressed and it appeared that Hong Kong’s emotions took over however, as they took a penalty that led to a 5th Haitian goal scored by Lokki Kwan. Haiti would score late and went on to win 6-2, and the initial round standings are now set as the […]

The Czech women are hoping to build on their 10-0 opening game win over Great Britain, while Italy is looking to bounce back from a tough 2-1 shootout loss to the U.S. just 24 hours earlier. Despite two early penalties to the host side, Italy was unable to draw first opportunity on the power play. The Czech side seemed to build off the energy that came not only from the early kills but also the late afternoon home crowd that came ready to roar. They scored just after the 2nd penalty with Horalkova notching her first of two on the afternoon. Drzmiskova made it 3-0 towards the end of the opening period, and this was just before two Czech penalties to close out the first period. Italy was unable to capitalize once again and the Czechs just seemed to roll from there, scoring three more in the second and one more in the third and guess who – Horalkova scored her second on a beautiful one-timer from the slot. This would prove to be the last marker of the game as it ended 7-0. Horalkova finished with four points. The Czech Women await Slovakia in their next match which will […]

Great Britain entered their late morning tilt with Bermuda after splitting their opening two matches; each decided by one goal, while Bermuda is coming off two opening game victories. After trading two opening period goals; Chris Morrison for GBR and Worthington-Wright for Bermuda, GBR took control of the possession in the second and started to pin Bermuda in their own zone. This included a couple of penalties late in the second period to Bermuda but it wasn’t until they expired that GBR broke through and Tom Cook with the go-ahead goal. Less than 3 minutes later it was Chris Morrison with his second, who put GBR ahead by two with arguably the most unique goal of the tournament thus far; when the ball deflected back off the end glass from a shot by Joe Cooke from nearly center ice and he calmly tapped into the back of the open cage and past the unsuspecting Bermudan keeper, Marchetti. Penalty trouble continued to plague Bermuda early in the 3rd. After a slashing penalty GBR went ahead by three after Adamec corralled the ball after a shot and had virtually an open cage to deposit the ball into. Chris Morrison completed the hat-trick […]