Game On Magazine 2017 Game On Magazine - Regular Season Edition | Page 98

only played ice hockey. And
that’s why I’m an advocate
for youth ball hockey.”
Kelly has spent much of
his spare time promoting the
game to ice hockey players.
“It’s a really fun game,”
he said with a smile. “I was
an advocate for getting the
youth league started.
“The great thing is ball
hockey is still hockey. It keeps
your hands in the game in
the off-season and it’s an
outstanding cardio workout.
You also meet new people and
like me, you never know what
might happen. We’re getting
more elite hockey players
every year because once they
experience the game, they
love it. It’s hockey with a
solid off-ice workout. What
could be better than that?”
Dzikowicz, the general
manager of Canada’s National
Team, is an unabashed
promoter of youth ball hockey.
“It’s a great off-season
opportunity for hockey
players,” Dzikowicz said.
“It’s just a little different
than ice hockey. It’s hockey
with no gliding. You have
to run for 200 feet. For
straight out conditioning,
nothing is better for hockey
players than ball hockey.”
Dzikowicz’s goal and the
goal of the Youth Ball Hockey
League’s organizers is to
get more kids registered for
the 2018 Summer League.
There are divisions from U-7
to U-19 so there is plenty
of opportunity for kids to
play. And if you’re a hockey
player at any level, you
won’t get a better workout
than you will by playing
summer ball hockey.
THE SUMMER GAME.
MANITOBA YOUTH BALL HOCKEY
“
I JUMPED AT THE
CHANCE, AND MADE THE
NATIONAL MEN’S TEAM AS
A 19-YEAR-OLD
“There is plenty of
opportunity for kids to play,”
said Dzikowicz. “We take all
skill levels. We’ll find a place
for everybody. We have male
and female divisions from
Triple A to kids who have
never played hockey before.
Fact is, ball hockey is a great
entry point to Canada’s
national game for new
Canadians. It’s a tremendous
way to get a taste of hockey
before you learn to skate,
and if you are already skating
it will make you faster and
build up your stamina.”
In past years, one of the
top youth ball hockey players
in Manitoba was Toronto
Marlies forward Adam Brooks.
Brooks played in two youth
9 8 | G AME ON | R EGU L A R SEASON ED ITION 2018
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nationals and if he wasn’t
such a successful ice hockey
player, he might have become
a National Team ball hockey
player like ECHL star, Shaq
Merasty, who won silver with
Team Canada last year.
“I was fortunate to play
for Team Manitoba twice in
the summer and won two
national championships,”
said Brooks. “Not only did I
develop a ton of friendships
that will last a lifetime but
I also developed skills that
translated well to ice hockey.
“I also believe all the
running allowed me to work
on cardio and it also helped
me work on explosiveness.
The pace is fast moving and
makes you work on your
hands and makes you move
to create space which you
can take into your upcoming
ice hockey season.”
Tyler Anderson, a star
at No. 3-ranked NCAA
Division 1 powerhouse St.
Cloud State, has nothing
but good things to say about
his ball hockey experience.
“Ball hockey was an
amazing opportunity for
me to get into the shape I
needed to be in come hockey
season,” Anderson said.
“Some of my favourite sports
memories have come from
playing ball hockey with my
friends, especially being able
to play for Team Manitoba.”
So why not play ball
hockey? If you’re under 19,
you love sports, especially
ice hockey, click on www.
manitobaballhockey.com.
There is a team waiting
for you to join. ❍
If you are older than 18 there
are leagues for Men, Men’s
Masters, Women and Coed
for all skill levels.