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BARRIE, ON – Oct 4, 2009 - The Men’s World Outdoor Ball Hockey Championships took place at the Barrie Ball Hockey Club this past weekend with teams competing for the coveted Championship awards! Teams competed in four divisions … Men’s “A” (open), Men’s “B” and “C,” and Men’s “Over 35.” The tournament weekend was the final of three event weekends spanning six weeks as part of the “ballhockey.com” 14th Annual World Outdoor Ball Hockey Championships.
This is a special year as the “Worlds” have been expanded over three themed weekends … Youth – August 28-30 at the Brampton Ball Hockey Club; Women’s & Co-ed – September 25-27 at the Niagara Ball Hockey Club; and Men’s – October 2-4 at the Barrie Ball Hockey Club. Over the course of the three events ninety teams participated from all over North America … with more than 1300 participants competing for their share of the estimated $30,000 in prizes.
The action got under way on Friday, October 2nd as all three divisions took to the rink to kick things off. The 36 team Men’s “B” pool would later be split into two divisions creating a 16 team pool to compete for the inaugural Men’s “C” championship. Saturday, October 3rd saw an additional 48 games go in the books to set things up for the big games on Sunday! The quarter-final and semi-final games on Sunday, August 30th saw some very spirited and close games as the event wound down and four champions were crowned in the afternoon for each division. In all, 100 games were played to determine the champions in each of the four divisions being contested this year!
St. Catharines Wizards Return for Men’s “Over 35” Title!
The St. Catharines Wizards decided it was time for a reunion and they pulled most of their team back together from the last Men’s A team they entered in 2005 … many players had retired from ball hockey after their semi-final defeat in 2005. The reunited squad (and five-time Men’s “A” champions) were on a mission to win the Men’s “Over 35” division championship and they lived up to their expectations with a solid 6-3 win over the Barrie Doc Islanders. Many of the players on both sides have faced each other throughout the history of the World Outdoor Ball Hockey Championships, with the Wizards prevailing time and time again. The Wizards made their way to the final with a 2-0 semi-final win over their other rivals, Barrie National … a squad also full of players that have played many times against the powerhouse Wizards. Barrie Doc Islanders faced the St. Catharines Old Magic team in their semi-final and needed a shootout to produce a 2-1 victory. The shootout was spectacular and went to a ninth shooter before the Doc Islanders finally prevailed. There was talk of many of the Wizards players retiring after their big win, but many of their players are expected back to defend their title in 2010!
MULTIPLE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
- 3 – ST. CATHARINES ROUGH RIDERS
- 3 – BARRIE NATIONAL FREIGHT
MULTIPLE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- 7 – BRIAN HENDERSON, ST. CATHARINES
- 7 – DAN RIGA, ST. CATHARINES
- 6 – KEVIN SEXSMITH, ST. CATHARINES
- 5 – LUC MONTEROSSO, ST. CATHARINES
- 5 – PAT HENDERSON, ST. CATHARINES
- 4 – GUY POLLARD, ST. CATHARINES
- 4 – KEVIN MYRE, ST. CATHARINES
- 4 – ROBERT BAKER, ST. CATHARINES
- 4 – JEFF ARCHAMBAULT, ST. CATHARINES
- 3 – DAVID BRITNELL, BARRIE
- 3 – ROB LEDUC, BARRIE
- 3 – JOHN PANKOFF, ST. CATHARINES
- 3 – MATT BELSON/MUNN, ST. CATHARINES
- 3 – PAUL BARBAS, ST. CATHARINES
2009 Champions – St. Catharines Wizards
Mathew Munn, John Pankoff, Fred Kryzanowski, Rob Bussi, Guy Pollard, John Feren, Kevin Myre, Kevin McNeil, Luc Monterosso, Robert Baker, Kevin Sexsmith, Dan Riga, Brian Henderson, Bill Merry, Ron Sauntry
2008 Champions – Team Niagara
Matt Belson, Guy Pollard, John Feren, Kevin Myre, Patrick Henderson, Kevin McNeil, Paul Barbas, Luc Monterosso, Robert Baker, Kevin Sexsmith, Dan Riga, Jeff Sanderson, Darryl Srigley, Brian Henderson
2007 Champions – St. Catherines Rough Riders
Sandy Dicarlo, Guy Pollard, John Cochrane, Kevin Myre, Patrick Henderson, Jeff Archambault, Paul Barbas, Luc Monterosso, Robert Baker, Kevin Sexsmith, Dan Riga, Jeff Sanderson, Greg Marotta, Brian Henderson
2006 Champions – Barrie National Freight
Daigan Parker, Steve King, Rob Leduc, Dave Martin, Terry Dowdall, Rick Washer, Brian Jorgensen, Dirk Vanderlaan, Derek Wilson, Mark Guergis, Kirk Swales, Dave Britnell, Ken Laver, Steve Cranley
2005 Champions – St. Catherines Rough Riders
Brian Henderson, Rob Baker, Dan Riga, John Pankoff, Pat Henderson, Matt Belson, Jeff Archambault, Kevin Sexsmith, Rob Bussi, Darryl Srigley, Bobby Coles, Luc Monterosso, Paul Barbas, Kevin Myre, Dan Hextall
2004 Champions – Barrie National Freight
David Britnell, Rick Washer, Greg Miller, Pat Capone, Kirk Swales, Dirk Vanderlaan, Stephen King, Rob Leduc, Charles Noganosh, Terry Dowdall, David Martin, Mark Guergis, Keith Cook, Rick Foster
2003 Champions – St. Catherines Rough Riders
Jeff Archambault, Brian Henderson, Kevin Sexsmith, Fred Morrison, Dan Riga, Guy Pollard, Randy Couglar, Norm Ayre, Jack Dupuis, John Pankoff, Mark McAllister, Rick Heculuck, Rob Nevestuk, Pat Henderson
2002 Champions – Niagara Greyhounds
Tony Pasto, Ken Wilson, Jim Wilson, Mark Dicarlo, Frank Urbanac, Rob Greatrix, Tom Bruce, John Camelia, Russ Criddle, Joe Fournier, Jeff White, Paul Thibert, Chris Brooks, Dean Bell
2001 Champions – St. Catherines Red Dogs
Tony Capaldi, Jeff Hornick, Luc Monterosso, Terry Pracchia, Jeff Archambault, Kevin Sexsmith, Rocco Marchese, Joe Marchese, Fred Morrison, Al Surrey, Paul Perotto, Dan Riga, Lino Capaldi
2000 Champions – Barrie National Freight
David Britnell, Earl Elliott, Greg Miller, Rob Leduc, Larry Rheubottom, Peter Veitch, Jim Raymond, Charles Noganosh, Barry Norton, Rob McMillan, Keith Cook
1999 Champions – Barzooka Hornets, Welland
Mark Zwart, Tracey Snider, Dan Henderson, Brian Henderson, Pat Henderson, Pete Van Ryn, Jim Van Room, Mike Flynn, Paul Rohner, Wayne Scobie, Brad Schawry, Dave Stafford, Steve Rochon
1998 Champions – Old Dawgs, St. Catherines
Vytas Dykstra, Tracey Snider, Dan Henderson, Len Webb, Barry Snook, Dave Stafford, George Malana, Dan Riga, Rob Lynn, Brian Henderson, Espo Dimaria |
