As Team Canada’s most productive player and third most productive player in the Men’s A Pool, with seven goals and seven assists, Josh showed his class throughout the tournament and deservedly earned a spot on the 2024 Men’s World Cup All-Star Team.
Josh also came up big for his team when it mattered most. He scored a last-minute winner in the group match against Slovakia to give Canada three crucial points, but his most important moment came five days later in the unforgettable gold-medal match against Czechia, which went into extra time. Do you know who scored the winning goal that gave Canada the second gold medal in a row?
You’re right. It was Josh Anderson.
Josh, can you give us an insight into how the Male Player of the Year prepares for the ISBHF Championships?
For preparation, I followed an intense strength, speed, and stamina-building plan. During the fall and winter, I focused on building strength, then gradually shifted toward speed and stamina training as the championships approached. I reduced heavy weightlifting and incorporated shuttle runs and sprints to enhance my endurance. Additionally, I have a sport court behind my house where I practiced shooting and stickhandling. My first experience playing on a sport court was at the last World Championships in Laval, so I wanted to ensure I was more accustomed to it before the 2024 Worlds.
How does small-town ball hockey in Saskatchewan translate to your hard work and talent on the international stage?
Ice hockey in Saskatchewan is known for its gritty, hard-working style, and that carries over to our ball hockey as well. What we may lack in finesse, we make up for in work ethic. Our team plays a relentless, physical game, making opponents battle for every inch. This tough, determined style has helped our Saskatchewan Buffalo Ball Hockey Club medal in the last three Canadian National tournaments. I believe this approach made me an effective player for Team Canada. Winning battles in the corners and feeding the ball to skilled teammates like Karl Léveillé and Jean-Philippe Moquin to finish the play is what I thrive on.
Ball hockey in Saskatchewan has been growing tremendously in recent years, and I’m proud to be part of such a strong community. In the past, only one player from Saskatchewan would be selected for Team Canada. This year, we had three players (Christian Magnus, Josh Laframboise, and myself) and a coach (Brock Harrison) representing Canada. The sport’s growth here has allowed me to compete against top-level talent year-round.
How do you balance being a father and husband while remaining one of the best players in the world?
First and foremost, I have an amazing wife, Brooke, who makes it all possible. She is incredibly supportive, allowing me to travel for Canadian Nationals and other ball hockey events. My greatest joy is spending time with my kids and watching them grow, so when I’m home, I make the most of it. Often, my son joins me on the court, running alongside me or practicing his shooting. Staying disciplined with my time has been key to balancing my responsibilities and my passion for the sport.
The World Championship in Visp was the second one you played in. What was the biggest difference between playing in Laval in front of the home crowd and playing in Switzerland?
Even in Switzerland, we had a great group of fans cheering us on. They were loud and passionate, giving us a huge boost throughout the tournament. Playing the host team, Switzerland, in the semifinals was an unforgettable experience; the arena was packed, and the energy was electric. In Laval, we had the overwhelming support of a home crowd, which gave us an edge. In Switzerland, however, the fan support was more evenly divided between both teams, creating an intense atmosphere.
You had several family members travel to Switzerland. How important is your family’s support in your success as Male Player of the Year?
Having my family with me in Switzerland this past summer was an incredible blessing. Seeing all the #19 jerseys in the stands was unforgettable. I was fortunate to have two sets of aunts and uncles (Greg & Jan and Del & Pat), my grandma, Alma, my parents, Mark & Juanita, and my wife, Brooke, with our kids, Elliot and Adeline, all there to support me. Their presence meant the world to me, and they played a huge role in helping with our kids, allowing me to focus on my game.
For the second time in a row, you faced Czechia in the Gold Medal game. What was the key to keeping their most productive players at bay?
Our coaches, Jason Cormier, Brock Harrison and François Chalut did an amazing job preparing us for every game throughout the tournament, and we knew this game would require extra attention to detail to win. They stressed to us the importance of playing our style of game and sticking with the gameplan. Czechia is excellent at possession play, making it difficult to strip the ball from them. When their top players get the ball in the offensive zone, they can be extremely dangerous. We saw that firsthand when Jan Čejka scored their first goal off a cycle play. Our strategy was to use our speed to pressure their defense and disrupt their transition plays, making it harder for them to move the ball cleanly. When we forced turnovers, we attacked immediately to create odd-man rushes. JP Moquin’s goal, where he intercepted a breakout pass and scored low blocker, was a perfect example of this strategy working. We also focused on screening their goalie, Vojtěch Mokry, and crashing the net for rebounds to capitalize on scoring chances. We knew we weren’t beating Mokry with an unscreened shot so the name of the game was creating chaos in front of him. The goal I was lucky enough to score was created because Karl Léveillé used his strength and speed to get the ball to the front of the net and I crashed in for the rebound. It was such a tight game that these little things we did well added up and helped us win a second world championship in a row.
How physically demanding was it to maintain a high pace of play for such a long period?
The final game against Czechia was the most exhausting experience of my life. We pushed hard to win in regulation, so by the time we reached overtime, fatigue was setting in. We kept our shifts short to stay as fresh as possible, but we also had to give everything we had, knowing the game could end at any moment. Our ability to maintain such a high pace was a testament to our preparation. Everyone on the team came ready to compete at their best all week, and it showed in our performance. We also had such a good support staff of trainers that kept us healthy all week, ready to give it our all in the final game.
You scored the crucial game-winning goal for your team. Can you describe the feeling of netting the golden goal in double overtime and what it means for the ball hockey community across Canada?
I was fortunate enough to score the golden goal, but it was truly a team effort. Our coaches, Jason Cormier, Brock Harrison, and François Chalut, made key strategic decisions. Our goalie, Christian Lantin, made massive saves to keep us in the game. Our defense relentlessly shut down Czechia’s top forwards. Every forward line contributed both offensively and defensively. Winning a world championship requires full buy-in from the entire team, and that’s exactly what we had.
It was an incredible moment, not just for me but for ball hockey in Canada as a whole. We come from different provinces and don’t play together regularly, yet we united as a team and accomplished something special. It’s a memory I’ll cherish forever.
Later in the year, you played with the Big Deal Selects in the Spittin’ Chiclets Ball Hockey Tournament. How has the sport and playing for Team Canada impacted your life and allowed you to be invited to these fantastic events?
Ball hockey has brought me lifelong friendships and incredible experiences. Some of my best friends come from the Saskatchewan ball hockey community. Playing in the ISBHF World Championships took me to Laval and Switzerland, and the sport also gave me the opportunity to compete in London at the Chiclets Cup. These are experiences I never imagined I’d be a part of. Ball hockey is an amazing sport with a tight-knit community, and I feel truly grateful to be involved in it.
The ISBHF is thankful to Josh for his commitment to the game and the time and thought he put into these answers.
