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, Czech Republic.
Scott Steele: “This is why ball hockey and the ISBHF is amazing; we all get the opportunity to travel the world and meet fellow players/coaches/support staff/organizers/fans from all walks of life.”
The article below is just a small taste of what is to come as the ISBHF, the BBHA and Bermuda prepare to host the 2018 ISBHF World Masters in September.
The BBHA just had an amazing opportunity, on Sunday Jan 28th, 2018, as the crew from the Canadian Naval ship HMCS Toronto (Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship) were able to join the BBHA for a near perfect day of ball hockey at our outdoor facility. With around 50 players between three teams, the Navy crew and the BBHA members all enjoyed a very competitive and fun ball hockey mini-tournament. The pace was fast and the skill level high between the teams throughout the morning games. The result did not matter, however as the players were excited that we got to enjoy the sport that we all love with such a unique match-up and location.
Mark Heintzman of the BBHA, who had organized this miniature tournament had the following to say, “The Canadian Navy ship HMCS Toronto (333), arrived in Hamilton harbor this past weekend (January 26th) and connected with the BBHA players for an entertaining weekend together. The home players welcomed the sailors Friday night as a few of the players met with the Commanding Officer Steven Archer and other shipmates on the Canadian Navy vessel and later followed by a tour of our front street establishments.”
Mark continued, “The reason for the Navy’s trip was the Commanding Officer Archer’s last voyage on duty with the Toronto so they wanted to head somewhere warm and he chose Bermuda. Knowing this, the local players tried to advance the hosting activities to make sure that they had so much fun that they would recommend Bermuda to other ships to come here for a stay. Over the weekend the sailors were entertained to tours, golf, private dinners and other events around the island to show them that Bermuda is an incredible Island.”
Petty Officer Chris Pudsey of the HMCS Toronto also mentioned, “The crew absolutely had a blast playing hockey in Bermuda. It’s too bad a couple of our better players were unable to come out and play to put up a better fight but those who were able to attend had nothing but glowing reports in regards to the game, the facilities and the players who were there. Fantastic group of people down there. I only wished I lived there and could play in the league myself!”
This is not the first time that the BBHA has had the honor of hosting the Canadian Navy. In April, 2016 the HMCS St. John’s was docked in the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda. We all knew right away this was going to be an epic day when the Navy team showed up to the rink in style, on their RHIB Navy boats directly from their ship.
Leading Seaman Graeme Hovey of the HMSC St. John’s still has fond memories of their time here, as he writes “It was an incredible experience for all of the members of the HMCS St. John’s crew who took part. The Bermuda club provided a once in a lifetime opportunity that many of us still talk about to this day when we all get together and remember our time onboard ship! In all the ports before and after that many of us have visited, the hospitality shown by BBHA has never been matched! Bravo Zulu to the BBHA!”
The feedback that the BBHA gained from both of the Canadian Navy crews has been priceless. These groups all adored being able to play some games, meet up with some fellow ball hockey enthusiasts and visit this beautiful island. This is why ball hockey and the ISBHF is amazing; we all get the opportunity to travel the world and meet fellow players/coaches/support staff/organizers/fans from all walks of life. With our sport, we build friendships that span the globe while playing a game that we love in all of the levels of competition. In the years to come, I believe that our sport will explode in participation and popularity as we gain fans/players/teams and countries to our community as we expose more of the world to our great sport.
Join the ISBHF on the Road to the Masters, Bermuda 2018!
Steelsy
“The feedback that the BBHA gained from both of the Canadian Navy crews has been priceless. These groups all adored being able to play some games, meet up with some fellow ball hockey enthusiasts and visit this beautiful island.”
