The Roadrunners Summer Classic ball hockey tournament took over the Harewood Covered Box on Aug. 10-11 with over 200 athletes participating. (Megan Lum)

By Dan Marshall

Road Warriors

Roadrunners two day ball hockey tournament continues to grow

Aug 13, 2024 | 12:26 PM

NANAIMO — The Harbour City’s biggest annual ball hockey tournament wrapped at the Harewood Covered Box.

The Roadrunners Summer Classic had 20 teams spread across four different divisions, held Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11.

Co-organizer Megan Lum was very happy with the turnout.

“This year has been the biggest yet with the 20 teams registered. Rosters are ten per team so there’s 200 athletes participating. With friends, family and spectators it’s a big crowd. This was the ninth anniversary of the tournament, though it’s only run seven times due to the “Covid Pause” in 2020 and 2021.”

In the playoff rounds the Island Sting took the A Division and the Street Kings won B.

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The Nanaimo Thunder Cats won the B relegation crown with The Millionaires taking C and the Benson Bashers winning the D division.

Goaltender Troy Gladesdahl, who has played in the tournament every year, said the event featured a wide range of ages and skill levels.

“Some wonderful people came out in the ball hockey community to have a great weekend of hockey and fun. We had recreational players all the way to provincial and national ball hockey champions. The ages ranged from 18 up to 60 plus.”

The Summer Classic attracts many players from Nanaimo but also from Victoria, Courtenay, Cowichan Valley, Port Alberni and Vancouver.

In 2022 the tournament changed locations from Departure Bay to the Harewood Covered Box and at that time the game play went from four on four to three on three.

“Moving to Harewood in the post-Covid era has been great as the facility offers protection from rain while still being outdoors,” Lum said. “The local league has been a good addition to the ball hockey community here in Nanaimo, and we’d like to see the tenth anniversary event in 2025 be even bigger.”

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