pace, competitive sport.”
For those who think ball
hockey is a “man’s game,”
it’s time to start paying
attention. The fact is, there
might not be a better off-
season sport for female hockey
players than ball hockey.
There is, of course, a
girls’ ball hockey league in
Winnipeg, but for those who
want to test themselves at a
higher level, there is also a way
to get to Manitoba’s provincial
team and ultimately, as Shelley
Cockerill found out, Canada’s
National Team. Not only is ball
hockey fun, but if you want to
take the game to a higher level,
that opportunity is available.
In fact, Olivia Daoust is
a terrific example of how a
good young soccer player
has crossed over to become
a great ball hockey player.
“My entire family has always
lived and breathed hockey,”
Olivia said. “I started out in
soccer, and began to cross
over to ball hockey in 2014.
The reason I decided to play
ball hockey was because of my
brothers. They both play ice
hockey, and I was determined
to follow in their footsteps.
“As a soccer player, I was
thrilled with the thought of
learning to play off the ice,
especially since both ice and
ball hockey are so similar.
Discovering ball hockey
provided me with a fantastic
opportunity to immerse
myself in hockey, equipped in
runners instead of skates. I
was the only girl in my division
the first year I played, and
was one of a few throughout
my years in minors.
“Since transferring from
minors to the WBHL, I have
played year-round. I have won
gold with both my women’s
and coed teams. I have also
SHELLEY COCKERILL AND
HER DAUGHTER SKYLAR
played in tons of tournaments,
winning gold twice, receiving
silver and bronze, and
being awarded MVP.
Last year, Olivia decided to
challenge herself further by
starting to play ice hockey.
“The skills I have acquired
through ball hockey, such
as stickhandling, shots,
hockey sense, and quick
decision-making, have been
an incredible asset in my
transition to ice,” she said.
“Currently, I am in my second
season, and am playing in
Division A with the ASHL. I
am also assistant coach to an
amazing group of young girls,
the Novice A1 Polar Bears.”
Last summer, Olivia Daoust
and Robyn Matula played on
1 2 2 | G AME ON | PL AYOFF ED ITION 2018
Team Manitoba at ball hockey
Nationals in Saint John, N.B.
This summer, five countries
will come together to compete
in the Inaugural U-20 Female
World Cup held by the ISBHF
in Czech Republic. Olivia
said, “I am honored to be
selected alongside Robyn
as the two Manitobans for
this competition. I am very
excited to represent Canada
and make our country proud.”
Any young woman who
would like to take a shot at
ball hockey is encouraged
to register. Just check out
manitobaminorballhockey.com
“Our push at this moment
is to grow the numbers of
minor and junior female ball
hockey players,” said Michelle
Daoust. “We need to have a
successful league so these
girls can represent Manitoba
and Canada in the future.”
For Christina McCrindle, a
newcomer to Winnipeg and
an ice hockey goaltender from
Edmonton, ball hockey has
become a big part of her life.
I’ve lived all my life in
Alberta, only just moving to
Winnipeg in October of last
year,” she said. “My childhood
consisted of time spent in
ice hockey rinks where I
played competitively on boy’s
teams. I finished my minor
hockey career with a female
Midget AAA team and it was
at that time that I decided I
didn’t want to continue my
ice hockey career. I joined a
friend’s ball hockey team while
attending University in 2009
and I have been hooked on the
sport ever since. I dedicated
my childhood to becoming
the best ice hockey goalie I
could be, but ball hockey has
now opened a new door to
learn a slightly different take
on the same great game. I am
now able to compete at high
levels again and be a part of
provincial teams and national
teams with still many more
opportunities open to me.”
Ice hockey players who
want a great summer workout
– and plenty of fun and
competition, plus a chance
to play internationally – are
encouraged to check out ball
hockey. In fact, one of those
future stars 12-year-old Julia
Loepp, is a great example of
how proficient a young female
athlete can become at the
game in a very short time.
“I love the speed of the
game,” she said. “Oh, and
I love how much fun ball
hockey is to play.” Well, that
pretty much sums it up. ❍