The Hammerheads were the A Division champions in the inaugural season of the Nanaimo Ball Hockey League. (Bruce Avender)

By Dan Marshall

Hockey Ballers

Nanaimo Ball Hockey League wraps up first season

Jul 12, 2022 | 1:29 PM

NANAIMO — It started small but has ended with some provincial representation for the region’s best ballers.

The inaugural season of the Nanaimo Ball Hockey League began with free agent playing sessions in March and ended with three teams going to the provincials in July.

Organizer and player Bruce Avender said it was his goal to bring the community together and provide friendly competition.

“I enjoyed watching this league grow with lots of excitement and happy faces showing up to the rink, it was really special. We did a lot of listening from captains and players to see what ideas they had to make the league better.”

The NBHL had a total of nine teams, with about 15 players per team. The A Division had four teams and in the B Division there were five.

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Avender noted next season will see more teams join the competition after a positive step forward in year one.

“It was great to send three of our teams to play in the BC provincials in Surrey. A lot of adults don’t have the opportunity to travel to these hockey tournaments because of time, or money. Seeing grown men have the time of their lives was a special moment.”

Troy Gladesdahl, the top goaltender award winner in the A Division, was happy to see the sport grow from playing with friends in local gymnasiums to something larger.

“Playing in this league for us as a team was a great opportunity to see how we would fare against other ball hockey players. I got to meet some great people along the way and I was pleasantly surprised with the turn out and how much interest there was.”

Gladesdahl said participating in the provincials was an experience 25 years in the making.

“Watching teams that have been together doing this for years with their competitiveness and skill sure makes you bring your game to another level. I look forward to being able to represent Nanaimo again at the provincials next year in Victoria.”

Plans are in the works for other events in the coming months to keep ball hockey going in Nanaimo throughout the year.

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