Registration still available for Ball Hockey League hopefuls

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John’s Adult Ball Hockey League is set to begin next week at the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

The league began because of a need to use the facilities in the summer months and the passion some community residents have for hockey all-year round.

Marissa Jordan, recreation programmer with the City of Fort St. John, explained to Energeticcity.ca about the league’s origins.

Jordan described the league as “recreational” with some equipment – specifically, goalie pads and hockey sticks – being provided.

According to Jordan, games will be officiated by the teams themselves. Participants need only a pair of hockey gloves and some indoor running shoes.

The season will last 10 weeks, until Tuesday, June 22nd. A championship tournament will then be held on Saturday, June 27th. Game time is three, 15-minute periods and will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. once a week.

Jordan stated despite some chatter online suggesting the deadline to register was Friday, April 17th, schedules are finalized – but she “wouldn’t necessarily turn away” a late entry despite registration ending on Sunday, April 12th.

“In total, we have been going for seven seasons,” said Jordan. “Essentially, it started as a way to utilize the facility. It is a lot slower in the summertime, so we were thinking of some ways to fill the dry floor space.”

“We are a big hockey community, so we figured we would try this. There’s a lot of people in this community that obviously can’t get enough of hockey.”

“[The league] is certainly more about the exercise,” said Jordan. “There’s no trophy [and] we don’t keep individual statistics. It’s very much just very recreational and very fun and accessible.”

The City of Fort St. John’s Adult Ball Hockey League will cost $750 for a team of five. To register, visit the Fort St. John Visitor Information Centre inside the Pomeroy Sport Centre at 9324 96th Street.