Several Innisfil teams playing in weekend broomball tournament
Al Lees

Innisfil Junior Broomball

Tigers, Terminators, Invaders and Whatevers are the local Innisfil entries in the upcoming 2008 Ontario Junior Broomball Provincial Championships. The games will be played at the new double pad Innisfil Recreation Complex, along with the Stroud Arena on Friday February 8th, through to Sunday February 10th.

The local Innisfil Junior Broomball Program has a smaller nucleus of players than some of the hotbed areas of Ottawa and Windsor. That however, does not deter or dampen the spirit and desire for fair play and competition from the local players and coaches. Girls make up almost half of the Midget boys roster, and one third of the Bantam boys roster. The girls provide speed and aggressiveness against males of the same age.

The Innisfil teams just recently competed in a warm-up tournament for the provincials. The tournament was held in Mildmay from Friday night through to Sunday. The teams were able to create good interaction on and off the ice. All overtime games are played four-on-four with no goalie.

The Innisfil Tigers Peewee team lost 1-0 in overtime against Blyth Rollers; lost 1-0 in overtime against Palmerston; and lost 3-0 against a very strong Mildmay Hawks entry.

The Innisfil Terminators Peewee team tied 0-0 in overtime against Blyth Dynamites; won 1-0 in overtime against Seaforth; and lost 2-0 against Mildmay Red Wings.

The Innisfil Invaders Bantam team started with a tough 2-1 loss to Mildmay Jets, followed by a 3-0 loss to Blyth. They fought back in their next game to win 1- 0 in overtime over Seaforth, followed by 2-1 overtime loss to Blyth.

The Innisfil Whatevers Midget won 1-0 in overtime against Mildmay; lost 1-0 in overtime against Palmerston; and lost 2-0 with an empty net goal against Mildmay.

The Junior Championship kicks off at noon on Friday at all three ice surfaces. The Tigers play their first game at 3:45 p.m. on Friday at the Red rink at IRC against Blyth Dynamites, while the Terminators play their first game at the same time on the Gold rink against Mildmay Hawks. The Invaders start play in Stroud at 4:30 p.m. against the Mildmay Jets; while the Whatevers host Seaforth commencing at 6 p.m. at the Gold rink.

All Divisions are a double knockout format, with the exception of the Peewees who play a wraparound format. There are 126 games scheduled for the weekend, so take in some of the action. Admission to all of these games is free.