Expat Hockey League Season Kicks Off
By Matthew Graveline
Contributing Writer
Players of Canada Ball Hockey Korea took up their sticks and began another season last weekend.
With hype building for hockey in Korea and the popularity of the league, the CBHK was forced to shut down registration for another 120-player season.
But new and veteran players have a couple of improvements to look forward to.
After playing three seasons without any referees, the league decided to have officials to make sure players are not going back to their offices and schools with casts and scars on Mondays.
In addition, the CBHK is starting a Saturday kids' league and afternoon pick-up games.
For executive director Kurt deVries, it is important that the league is always growing.
"I want to give back to the Korean community that has been so great to our league," he said. "At the very least, I want a pick-up session to seed future growth."
The organization started three years ago as a casual pick-up game at Seoul Olympic Park on an inline rink, where they still play.
As expats hear about the league through various means, an interest in starting up ball hockey elsewhere in Korea is becoming a real possibility.
"A guy called from Jeju wanting to know the details of how to start his own CBHK," said deVries.
The league also has two new sponsors: the Sky Wellness Center run by U.S.-trained chiropractor Sean Kim, and Concierge K, which provides a travel, referrals and relocation service for expats in Korea.