BY SCOTT TAYLOR Photos by Colin Gennoe / International Ball Hockey Federation
A GAME THAT ’ S BIGGER THAN WE KNOW
General manager Jeff Dzikowicz admitted that he was near tears . Not for himself , but for the members of Canada ’ s national ball hockey team . Guys such as former Winnipeg Blues and University of Manitoba hockey star Dylan Kelly , former MMJHL playmaker Dustin Kelly , former WHL and U of M forward Remi Laurencelle , former Selkirk Steelers and SPHL Columbus Cottonmouths star Derek Gingera , former U of M and ECHL star Calin Wild and current member of the ECHL ’ s Wichita Thunder , Shaquille Merasty , were all core members of the 2017 National team and their last secondloss to Slovakia in the Gold Medal Final of the World Championship in Pardubice , Czech , this summer was heartbreaking .
“ You know me , I ’ m not the kind of guy who would cry about anything ,” said Dzikowicz with a sigh . “ But we were down 3-0 , fought back and took the lead and lost in the dying seconds and it was just gut-wrenching . I just felt so horrible for the guys . They ’ d worked so hard and played so well to have it end the way it did , it was just heartbreaking .”
Yes , hockey fans , we ’ re talking about ball hockey . But this isn ’ t a bunch of kids getting together on the street to flip a tennis ball into a Canadian Tire net . This is a game of skill and stamina played by great international athletes who just happen to be outstanding ice hockey players in the “ off-season .”
This past summer , a team that featured eight Manitoba hockey stars , went to the world championship on the other side of the planet and brought back silver . It was Canada ’ s best performance since 2007 and thanks to the play of guys like 30-year-old Kevin Marchuk ( River East Royal Knights of the MMJHL ), 26-year-old Paul Kastes ( St . Vital Victorias of the MMJHL ) and 21-year-old goalie Kyle McHolm ( River East , St . Boniface , Raiders of the MMJHL ) Team Canada was one of the best in the world for the entire 10-day tournament .
According to GM Dzikowicz , a lifetime Winnipegger , these guys can really play . “ The World Championships are held every two years on the odd numbered year ,” Dzikowicz explained . “ And the competition is fierce . There are great ball hockey teams from all over the world . And the Canadian women ’ s team has won three world championships , the last one with our own Chantal Larocque in 2015 .”
The next Worlds will take place in 2019 , but this summer , Winnipeg will play host to the Canadian National Championship from Aug . 6-11 , at the Bell MTS Iceplex . Many of the National Team players will be selected at the event .
“ It is a scouting year and Manitoba is hoping to sweep the Men ’ s , Women ’ s and Masters ’ competitions ,” said Dzikowicz . “ That ’ s ambitious , considering the women have never won , the men haven ’ t won since the early 80s and this is the first year we ’ ll have a Masters team . So there will
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