The region’s enthusiasm for hockey has resulted in the rising popularity of a different version of the sport — ball hockey.
Riley Martens of the Pembina Valley Youth Hockey League (PVYHL) says that after a trial season last January, the league is ready for more.
“[The trial season] was a good success,” he says. “We're ready to start up a full season.”
The ball hockey league is the latest option for youth in the community who would like to become involved in sport.
“There's no skill level required,” says Martens. “We take these kids, we play ball hockey, and we make it as professional and legitimate as we can. We just have a good time with them.”
Martens says that right now, the league is looking for boys grades 9-12. This year’s season will begin on September 20th. Registration is currently open, and Martens suggests signing up sooner rather than later.
“Earlier is always better. It gives us a better idea [of numbers],” he says. “We'll cap it off at 32 students.”
The PVYHL especially needs goaltenders.
“We’d love a couple of high school kids that love to play goalie — even with little experience. If [someone] just wants to give it a go, . . . we'll work with that.”
For Martens, the objective of the league is not only to play ball hockey, but also to provide mentorship and community to its players.
“Each team consists of [about] eight students . . . and then they have a coach that plays with them, that mentors them, that kind of just does life with these kids,” he says. “[We want] to give these guys a good foundation and just guide them through high school. High school can be tough.”
According to Martens, the mentorship is Christian based.
“It gives them a good place that they can just . . . let loose, have fun,” he says. “[We have] good guys that just love these kids and want to see the best [for] them and want to see them succeed in life.”
The community has come together to support the buddling ball hockey league. The PVYHL is well prepared for its second season.
“We have brand-new goalie equipment. We had an anonymous donor donate us new nets,” says Martens. “We have state-of-the-art helmets, chest protectors, pads, everything for these kids. We also had a bunch of sponsors from the community help us with getting . . . jerseys as well.”
Among the sponsors is Domino’s Pizza, which will provide the players with pizza a few times during the season.
Martens says there will be four teams this year — The Wolf Pack, The Bulldogs, The Mustangs, and, of course, the Flyers.
The winning team will have the honour of hoisting the RM of Stanley Cup. Of the name of the PVYHL’s coveted trophy, Martens says he couldn’t resist.
“One of the sponsors, ILS truck repair, had made the cup for us, and we were going to call it the ILS Cup, but then they [said], ‘no, the RM of Stanley Cup would be really cool,’” he says. “I could not pass that up.”
In addition to this accolade, the winning team will also compete at the next level. Martens says while the youth hockey leagues are not yet widespread, they are gaining ground across the country. Currently, the PVYHL plays against YFC Saskatoon and Winnipeg during nationals.
For Martens, the feedback the league received from its players last year indicates a good season ahead.
“[The first season] went really well,” he says. “We asked the kids . . . ‘what do you think of the league? What can we do differently?’ and they [just said] they loved it.”
For more information about the PVYHL or registration, click here.
~With files from Ty Hildebrand~