 Players in the Canadian ball hockey league in Korea fight for the ball in last winter’s playoffs in Seoul. The first meet of the new season is on Sept. 6. |
By Matthew Graveline
Contributing Writer
The local Canadian ball hockey league looks set to be double the size it was last season, its first ever campaign.
With over 70 people already signed up, organizers say the league will have eight outfits this year, twice as many as last year's contingent of four.
The league is encouraging more enthusiasts to come forward to boost the number playing the sport, a version of ice hockey played on a solid surface with a ball instead of a puck.
The organizers say the beauty of the ball hockey set-up in Korea is the camaraderie that exists between those who play in the league, which starts in September.
Richmond Hill, Ontario-native Adam Bencze, who signed up for the league last season, used to play in the Seoul Sunday Football League, but switched to ball hockey on the recommendations of friends who spoke of the league's familial atmosphere.
"Soccer was not close-knit at all," Bencze explained. "But for hockey, it is a really close-knit group of guys and they are all so welcoming.
"There is a frontierish element to the league. We manifest our own destiny. We vote on the rules, members are all mobilized to recruit sponsors and players. You have control over your own destiny.
"There are big surprises every year. As people come and go from teaching English, there are always new players with varying degrees of talent and ability.''
Kurt DeVries, the league's executive director, said he is happy with the expanding numbers.
"The reason is that I believe in the CBHK as a bigger-than-ball-hockey identity," he said.
"There are no grassroots organizations to provide a home away from home for Canadians living in Korea. Now, this doesn't limit membership to Canadians since we now have many other nationalities as members."
DeVries has been working with other members to make the league more visible in the expat community. The set-up has existed for several years in an informal sense, and it was only last year that it developed into a competitive league. And, having gained a sponsor last season, organizers have now added more backers for their second campaign.
"We have a much larger human network, including sponsors, to be used for everything from jobs to marital advice," DeVries said. "(We have) a much better Web site with speedy stats and registration at www.cbhk.org and a very interesting international tournament once a year called the Asian Cup."
Those interested in joining the league are advised to visit www.cbhk.org. The first meet of the new season takes place on Sept. 6 at Seoul Olympic Park.
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