Stroud Ball Hockey in full swing for 2007 season

In the first official week of inter-house league play, from Minor Tyke to Bantam divisions, all experienced the thrill of refereed, game timed, goal-sheet scoring, and the big clock sounding the buzzer to end each period, ball hockey.

For the Minor Tykes, the Stroud Curling Club was the venue on Wednesday May 2nd with games at both 6 and 7pm, and a portable score clock and timer, easily read from the farthest seat and equally loud in buzzing, even from behind glass, was present. The buzzer sounded a bit more often to signal line changes, but still held on for a few extra seconds at the final end of each period. The Tyke, Atom, Novice, Pee Wee and Bantam divisions play throughout the week in the Stroud Curling Club and full size arena as well as south in the Lefroy arena, depending on the age. Everybody is enjoying playing as they learn skills and rules while participating in a real ball hockey environment. Goalie equipment is provided so that all positions are covered and experienced.

Innisfil is fortunate enough to have so much interest in this sport that it has four house league teams per level, with six in the Atom division. Teams have been given fearsome and classic names such as the Devils, Hawks, Stars, and Rangers, with the Sabres and Sharks added at the Atom level.

In the Tyke Division, April 30th was the first night of competition and the Devils were up against the Hawks. Goals scored by Dylan Bellamy and K.J. Schulz, who also had an assist, gave the Devils the one goal edge to pull off the win. Breadon Knewshaw assisted by Tyler Ross answered for the Hawks but Devils' goalie Eric Berg held them to only one. Adam Ashby worked hard to keep his Hawks in the game in their end. Game two featured the Rangers verses the Stars and proved to be a one-sided affair with a 7 - 0 victory. Cade Ciccone had to share top honours with a hat trick in the game, assisted on only one goal with Cole Harrison who also scored as well. Thomas Barnes and Broderick Black scored unassisted, and Chris Cutts rounded out the scoring, assisted by Black. But another top star for the game was Rangers goalie Steven Noble who was outstanding for his first shut out of round-robin play.

May 1st began the Atom division with 3 house-league games in this expanded division. Game one had the Devils face off against the Hawks in a high-scoring final with the Devils winning 7 - 6. Exceptional play came from the likes of Brandon Chalkin with a hat trick and two assists followed by Liam Cowan with two goals and two assists. Colton Moores and Sebastian Cesta, with an assist, rounded out the scoring, in addition to assists from teammates AJ Johnson and Mackenzie Austin. For the Hawks, Marco Franza was a goalie's nightmare scoring four times and assisting on another. Harrison Clark counted the other two as well as two assists also with assists in the game, Brandon Mathias and Dan Roberts. In game two the Rangers suffered at the hands of the Stars as they were shut out 6 - 0. In an attack that featured the "J" factor of the team, Justin McKinnon, Jaden Nascimento, James Dietrich who counted two, and Jake Hall, scored or assisted on the goals. Mitchell Cook scored the 6th and Kurtis Berg was the assist. Game three had the final teams of the Sharks and Sabres square off in again what was a close finishing game with the Sabres pulling off a 5 - 4 victory. The Sabres had a three goal, hat trick effort from Cole Ciccone, who was not going to be outdone by his brother in the Tyke division. Mark Allard and Spenser Jones also scored and Jones proved his teamwork abilities by adding two assists to his efforts. Bradley Wilson also had an assist. Despite the hard effort of Hayden Stewart who had another of the night's hat tricks, the Sharks could not swim to a win. Travis Zielke also scored while Nathan Snowball had two assists.

Novice division games saw lots of action and high scores. The opener was the Devils and Hawks with the Devils decisively winning 10 - 3. There is a force to be dealt with on these Devils called "the Passers", Lucas and Brandon. Between them, they scored six of the goals, assisting on each others on two occasions and counting another assist as well. Mitch Hall both scored and assisted as did Austin Lacey, and Jacob Taylor and Mathew D'Ambrosio also had goals to their credit. Hawks goals were scored by Mark Myhar and Ryan Wicks who worked hard for two. The Rangers and Stars game was not as one-sided, however there did emerge a clear winner with the Rangers doubling the score 6 - 3. Andre Burrows was a star with his own hat trick followed with Matthew Goodnough, Harrision Dietrich, and Jeffrey Cooke. Assists were provided by Andrew Burrows and Tyler Ratuszney. For the Stars, Matthew McGrath, Jason Tondevold and Nathan Parker scored with assistance from Carsten Wisch.

No results were available at the time of the article for Pee Wee results; however the Bantam results made it. The Hawks and Stars went head to head but the Hawks were the ones to soar to victory. Eric Bohach was leading the charge with two unassisted goals and an assist of his own. Jonathan Schoop, also with an assist, Nick Preenan and Paul McPhee had the other netters while Jesse Vandenhurk and Josh Vankuik worked hard with assists. Stars goals came at the hands of Nic Geniole, assisted be Sean Doyle who then bettered himself by scoring with the help of Evan Smith. Ryan Snowball finished up the Stars scoring unassisted. When the Devils and Rangers came together for the second game it was war but the Devils prevailed winning 7 - 6. Roy Goobie scored twice and assisted once along with teammates Tommy Goutos, Lucas Munsie and Ryan Craber potting one each. Dylan Goutos, Allana Lees, Adam DeAnglis and Zach Zanchin each had one assist with Jonathan Halliday coming away with two. The Rangers' Taylor Lafferty scored twice, once unassisted, and also had one assist. Codie Burke scored and had an assist as did Kevin Smith and other single goal efforts went to Victor Jayses and Jordon McDonald. Also an assist in the Rangers' battle was earned by Evan Theakston.

Sponsors that have stepped forward to help fund team jerseys include Wee Diggers, Night Light Signs, Alyson Roberts Hair Reflections, and Complete HVAC.

For the next 8 weeks plus a weekend for championship playoffs, the teams face each other in round-robin play. The focus of the players is evident and serious, even at the Minor Tyke level. There were the classic celebrations with sticks up when a goal was scored, those who knew when they could not do it all on their own and passed forward to a team mate, and first time goalies that came through with some clutch saves to hold their team up. Organizers have worked hard this year to find coaches that are committed to both teaching the sport of ball hockey to younger players, and learning to be better coaches themselves as time goes by.

Be sure and make time to support your son or daughter's interest and share in their excitement of scoring their first goal, making the save, or just working hard as part of a team effort and having fun.