ballhockey.com introduces 2016 Heritage Cup Tournament

Ballhockey.com is pleased to announce a series of new tournament’s to be launched in 2016 that will continue in our tradition of offering first class International events to the sport.  We are pleased to announce that the Niagara Region has won the bid to host this inaugural Championship that will become a regular bi-annual event for the top players in the world.  Brian Broley, President of Ballhockey.com indicated, “we have had such a tremendous response from the players and teams that participate in our events and this will become another opportunity to be part of a great celebration of the game at an International level”.  The Niagara Ball Hockey Club will be playing host this year and is excited to once again host an International level of event.

Early indications are that we will limit the event to 12 Men’s Open teams, 12 Men’s Over 35 teams and 6 Women’s teams.  Teams’ will be seeded into groups of six and will play five preliminary games within their group Thursday through Saturday.  The top eight teams in each Men’s division will qualify for the Quarter Finals beginning on Sunday and the top four Women’s teams will qualify for Semi Final games as well.  Teams will play a minimum of five games and as many as eight.  We expect two Canadian and USA teams to be approved for the event in each category.

Ballhockey.com is searching for General Managers to pull together Heritage based teams for this event.  GM’s approved to participate will be expected to make a commitment to organize and operate the teams for this event in 2016 and for the 2018 event to be held in the U.S.A.  The General Managers of each group will be responsible for the selection of players and coaching staff.  They will also be part of a General Managers Advisory Group that will assist in the development of this event. We are excited to provide an opportunity for the pioneers of the sport to join us in building new opportunities to compete.  To get involved, fill out the General manager’s Application on the website, or contact Brian Broley directly at brianb@ballhockey.com.

Heritage rules will be based on the Heritage of the player, a Parent or Grand Parent.  Rosters will be due by May 31, 2016 and all player approvals will be done in advance of the event.  American Italians could play for Team Italy or Team USA.  This will be an adult tournament and all participating players must be 18 years of age at the time of the tournament.  Playing Rosters will be limited to a maximum of 22 players, but each team can declare up to 25 players on the roster.

The cost of the event will be $ 1,750 per team, but the winners in the Men’s divisions will play for a first place prize of $ 5,000 plus a championship banner and individual gold medals.  The top Women’s team will be playing for a prize of $ 3,500 as well as the championship banner and individual gold medals. Silver Medals will be awarded to the Finalist.

The Niagara Ball Hockey Club will be reaching out for volunteers to assist with the operation of an event of this size.  Anyone interest in getting involved should contact Brian Broley directly at brianb@ballhockey.com.

ballhockey.com hosting 2016 Ontario Open Youth Championships

Ballhockey.com is pleased to announce a series of new tournament’s to be launched in 2016 that will continue in our tradition of offering first class Provincial level events to the sport.  We are pleased to announce that the City of St. Catharines has won the bid to host this inaugural Championship that will become a regular annual event for players in Ontario and beyond.  Brian Broley, President of Ballhockey.com indicated, “We have had such a tremendous response from the players and teams that participate in our events and this will become another opportunity to be part of our efforts to grow the game at an Open Provincial level”. 

The Ballhockey.com 2016 Ontario Youth Open Championships will be held in St. Catharines August 5-7, 2016 and will offer Championships for the following Age Groups (Under 13, Under 15, Under 17) and will expand in 2017 to include Under 11 and Under 19 age groups.  Birth Years will be used as follows for the eligibility to participate.  Under 13 is 2003/2004.  Under 15 is 2001/2002 or later and Under 17 is 1999/2000 or later.  General Managers\Coaches wanting to represent their community can register with us online at www.Ballhockey.com

The event will be limited to 8-12 teams in each age group, so register early.  Playing Rosters will be limited to a maximum of 18 players (including goalies). Affiliated clubs in Barrie and Niagara will be offering to cover the cost for this event to their Spring 2016 Elite League winners.  The cost for this event will be $600 per team. Prizes will include Custom Bauer jackets for the winners and a championship banner and individual medals.  Finalists will receive Bauer clothing and Silver Medals. This is an open Championship intended to bring together the best teams in this age group.  We would expect and encourage participation from the USA and other Canadian Provinces.  More Event details will be posted to Ballhockey.com as we get closer to the event, but should you have any immediate questions or are interested in registering your team, please contact Brian Broley at brianb@ballhockey.com.

Volunteers wanting to assist in organizing and supporting this new event are welcome to get involved.

ballhockey.com launches indoor Tier 1,2,3,4 open championships

Ballhockey.com is pleased to announce a series of new tournament’s to be launched in 2016 that will continue in our tradition of offering first class Provincial level events to the sport.  We are pleased to announce that the City of Mississauga, Toronto & St. Catharines have won the bids to host these inaugural Championship’s that will become a regular annual event for players in Ontario and beyond.  Brian Broley, President of Ballhockey.com indicated, “We have had such a tremendous response from the players and teams that participate in our events and this will become another opportunity to be part of our efforts to grow the game at an Open provincial level”. 

These events will be limited to 12 Men’s teams in each level.  Players must be 18 years of age to participate as these are adult events.  Teams will be seeded into groups of 4 and will play 3 preliminary games within their group Friday through Saturday.  The top eight teams will qualify for the Quarter Finals beginning on Sunday.  Playing Rosters will be limited to a maximum of 20 players, but each team can declare up to 22 players on the roster. 

The Tournament date’s are:

Men’s Tier 1 – July 15-17 – Toronto – Open Event, No roster limitations.

Men’s Tier 2 – July 15-17 – Toronto – Roster limited to 4 Tier 1 Players on any roster.

Men’s Tier 3 – July 29-31 – Niagara – Roster limited to 1 Tier 1 Player & 3 Tier 2 Players on any roster.

Men’s Tier 4 – July 29-31 – Niagara – No Tier 1 or 2 Players Allowed, Limited to 4 Tier 3 Players.

All games will be played indoors in a full size arena and helmets will be mandatory. The cost of the event will be $750 per team, but the winners will play for a first place prize of $2,000 plus a championship banner and individual medals.  Finalists will receive $ 750.00 in cash and Silver Medals. This is an open Championship intended to bring together the best teams in this age group.  We would expect and encourage participation from the USA and other Canadian Provinces. 

More Event details will be posted to Ballhockey.com but should you have any immediate questions or are interested in registering your team, please contact Brian Broley at brianb@ballhockey.com.

ballhockey.com launches new Toronto leagues

Ballhockey.com is pleased to announce we will be operating Indoor and Outdoor leagues in the GTA this Summer.  We have been in Brampton for eight years and will have 50 teams playing at the Brampton Ball Hockey Club this Summer as we did in 2015.  East, Central and West Divisions will be forming and we are currently booking arena times in each market to support the development of the sport.  Tier 2, 3, and 4 Men’s leagues will be offered in 2016 and we will be expanding with Youth and Women’s divisions in 2017.

We welcome any leagues that want to affiliate with our player based belief system. 

Conveners are required to assist in the development and operational running of each league and we are looking for teams and individuals to join us in developing a player based organization excited to be part of growing the game.  Our 2016 Summer Season will run from May through August and we will be offering for the first time a series of Open Provincial level Championship Tournament events.  Check out Ballhockey.com for more details. 

Ballhockey.com has been involved in the sport for 22 years and provides leagues and events from an International to local level.  Centered in Ontario, affiliate and associated clubs are actively growing the sport at many levels and we encourage you to get involved.  To be part of the GTA based activity, touch base with our Toronto Commissioner at Toronto@ballhockey.com

ballhockey.com hosts first ever "Over 50" ball hockey tournament

Our first ever Over 50 ball hockey tournament was held February 19-21, 2016 in Niagara and was a well received success. in this inaugural Over 50 event we had 5 teams (Brampton Midnight Express, Withrow Park Knights, Barrie C4 & Niagara Hawks) participate and provide us with proof that there is life after 50!

Withrow Knights prevailed to win their first ever ballhockey.com Bauer jackets with a win over the Niagara Hawks in the finals.

New teams are welcome to join us at the next Over 50 tournament to assist us in building at this level of the sport! Contact brianb@ballhockey.com to get involved.

ballhockey.com Men's Over 35 Open Championship

Ballhockey.com is pleased to announce a series of new tournament’s to be launched in 2016 that will continue in our tradition of offering first class Provincial level events to the sport. We are pleased to announce that the City of Bradford has won the bid to host this inaugural Championship that will become a regular annual event for players in Ontario and beyond. Brian Broley, President of Ballhockey.com indicated, “We have had such a tremendous response from the players and teams that participate in our events and this will become another opportunity to be part of our efforts to grow the game at an Open provincial level”. Ballhockey.com Bradford will be playing host this year and is excited to be a new member of the Ballhockey.com Family.

The event will be limited to 12 Men’s Over 35 teams, with the age eligibility being that all participants must have been born in 1981 or earlier. There will be no underage players. Teams’ will be seeded into groups of 4 and will play 3 preliminary games within their group Friday through Saturday. The top eight teams will qualify for the Quarter Finals beginning on Sunday. Playing Rosters will be limited to a maximum of 20 players, but each team can declare up to 22 players on the roster.

The tournament date will be July 8-10, 2016. Location will be the Bradford Arena, which is a full size arena and helmets will be mandatory. The cost of the event will be $750 per team, but the winners will play for a first place prize of $2,000 plus a championship banner and individual medals. Finalists will receive $ 750.00 in cash and Silver Medals. This is an open Championship intended to bring together the best teams in this age group. We would expect and encourage participation from the USA and other Canadian Provinces. More Event details will be posted to Ballhockey.com as we get closer to the event, but should you have any immediate questions or are interested in registering your team, please contact 

St. Catharines Hosts U.S.A. Masters Training Camp

Ballhockey.com is once again pleased that ASHI has selected us to host the USA Masters National Team for an intense two day training camp to be held in St. Catharines at the Ballhockey.com Haig Bowl Arena on April 30\May 1, 2016. The 2 USA National teams will compete in Banff, Alberta in June 2016 at the ISBHF World Masters Championships and will spend this weekend preparing.

Jamie Cook, ASHI General Manager- Masters Division indicated “The USA National Men’s team was up in Niagara last year for a camp like this and our Men’s team was up 3-1 in the Finals before dropping a heartbreaking game in OT to the Czech Winners last year in ZUG Switzerland”. “The Niagara community was awesome in supporting us and the facilities in St. Catharines were great. We expect to get the same value this year before heading out to Banff with some competitive help from 2 good Canadian teams.”

Weekend Schedule

Saturday

DC Practice Time (7am – 9am)

USA Practice Time (9am – 11am)

Game 1 – DC VS Canada 1 (11am-12:30)

Game 2 – USA VS Canada 2 (12:30-2pm)

Game 3 – USA VS Canada 1 (3:00pm-4:30pm)

Game 4 – DC VS Canada 2 (4:30pm-6:00pm)

USA/DC Practice Time (6pm – 7pm)

Sunday:

USA Practice Time (9am – 10am)

DC Practice Time (10am – 11am)

Game 5 – USA VS DC (11am-12:30)

Game 6 – Cda 1 VS Cda 2 (12:30-2pm)

For Information about ASHI, contact Jamie Cooke at jcooke@ashihockey.org
For Information on Ballhockey.com – contact Brian Broley – brianb@ballhockey.com