Floorball and fun

Ever heard of floorball? It’s a lot like ball hockey, but with slightly safer rules.

The sport is popular in Europe, and is slowly starting to grow in Canada and the U.S. as well. Much like ball hockey, floorball is played with curved sticks, a ball, five players, a goalie and a net.

However, the sticks are lighter, the ball is a whiffle ball and you can’t raise the stick above your waist. Checking, slashing and stick-lifts are also prohibited. Instead of using their sticks, floorball players use their body position to steal the ball from an opponent.

In Nova Scotia, floorball has already developed a strong following. The sport is being taught in schools all over the province, and recreational floorball clubs are starting to appear thanks to organizations like Premier Floorball and Floorball Nova Scotia.

But for those who are new to floorball, an upcoming tournament could help get you acquainted with hockey’s closest cousin. On Saturday, June 25, Premier Floorball and the Sackville Blazers Hockey Club are teaming up to host the first annual Premier Cup, a floorball tournament fundraiser.

The tournament is happening at the Sackville Arena, and is restricted to players aged 14 and under. Anthony MacNeil, president of Premier floorball, said the tournament will help introduce the sport to even more people, and also raise some money for the Sackville Blazers.

“Educating people about the sport has always been a challenge for us, so every time we have an opportunity to host an event, we take advantage,” he said. “With this particular tournament, we’re hoping a lot of kids come out just to try it. Even if you don’t participate, come check it out and see if floorball is something you might be interested in.”

MacNeil said floorball is especially great for children, because it’s easy to learn and not very intimidating.

“Every rule in floorball is safety-oriented,” he said. “I’ve taught the sport in quite a few gym classes, and it really does engage the kids well because it’s similar to hockey and easy to pick up. Everyone can learn the sport and have some fun once they start playing.”

For the Premier Cup, MacNeil is hoping to secure at least 18 teams with about 10 players per team. It costs $600 to register a team, and all proceeds are going to the Sackville Blazers Hockey Club. No equipment or experience is necessary. Just come ready to play, and ready to try something new.

“This is also an opportunity for some of the Sackville Blazers players to get involved and help with the fundraising,” said MacNeil. “A lot of local sports teams do golf tournaments or other things like that, but this is a unique fundraiser. It’s a chance for the players to be leaders in the community and help some younger kids play a safe sport while having some fun.”

The Premier Cup floorball tournament is happening on Saturday, June 25 at Sackville Arena. For more information or to register a team, check out www.premierfloorball.com.

“I’ve never had a child, teenager or adult tell me they didn’t enjoy floorball after trying it for the first time,” said MacNeil. “I love seeing the smiles when kids pick up a stick and just start playing.”