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Nanaimo will host two different levels of the BC Ball Hockey provincials starting on Friday, July 3, and going all weekend. Four local clubs are hoping to earn a berth in the 2027 Canadian national ball hockey tournament. (Image Credit: Troy Gladesdahl (NBHL))
Ball Drop

BC Ball Hockey provincials come to Nanaimo

Jul 3, 2026 | 9:56 AM

NANAIMO — Year five of the Nanaimo Ball Hockey League is wrapping up with its organizing committee hosting two levels of a provincial tournament.

Organizer and player Troy Gladesdahl said 16 teams are participating in the ‘B’ and ‘D’ level championships this weekend.

“I’m amped up about it. I’ve been looking forward to it since we got notice about being able to host provincials. We’ve been gearing up and getting ready to host. We’ve got 12 ‘D’ teams that are coming, and we also have four ‘B’ division teams.”

Games will be played from July 3 to 5 at Frank Crane Arena, the Nanaimo Ice Centre and the Cowichan Community Centre.

Gladesdahl explained each team is guaranteed three games during the round robin stage, and then they will go into the semifinals and finals.

“It is a pretty jam-packed schedule. We have teams from Kelowna and Kamloops as well as Vancouver. We do have Victoria and Comox participating as well. There are four ‘D’ division teams that are representing Nanaimo. Let’s see if we can come out with something, and it would be great to see some people come out and cheer on your local teams.”

Gladesdahl said winners at this tournament will be eligible for ball hockey nationals in 2027.

“We have the Huskies representing Nanaimo this year at the nationals in Montreal. For the teams participating this year, they will be eligible for the ‘B’ or the ‘D’ nationals next year. The first-place teams will get to go, and the second-place teams will also have the opportunity.”

The Nanaimo teams at the provincials locally are the Street Kings, with the first berth for Nanaimo, the Buttermilk Waffles came in second, and the Roadrunners qualified third. The Nanaimo Owlz also received a tournament invite.

Round Robin games will go ahead on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, with the playoff rounds slated for the following day.

Admission is free, with concessions offered at the arenas, along with a beer garden at Frank Crane Arena.

“There’s a lot of volunteers,” Gladesdahl said. “We’ve got about 20 people from our association volunteering. With BC Ball Hockey bringing in refs and game commissioners, we have upwards of 40 people getting this thing going. I’d love for this to bring people more to ball hockey throughout the island, including kids. I’d like to see the growth up island too.”

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