It is a game that has become an institution, a way of life for thousands of players, coaches, officials, administrators and fans of an activity that is played with a ball and a stick on neighbourhood streets, schoolyard parking lots, gymnasiums and rinks from coast-to- coast throughout the country.  The game is ball hockey and it is brought to you by the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA), the officially recognized governing body for the sport in Canada since the organization’s inception in 1978. 

The Canadian Ball Hockey Association celebrated its 32^nd year at the 2009 National Championships.  It was indeed a celebration of the game at all levels of participation from past to present in the sport as teams travelled from far and wide to be a part of this historical event back in Winnipeg for the first time since 1979.

Despite the valiant effort put forth by the competitors, which included the last two champions from Quebec (Black Knights and Red Lite), the Brampton Midnight Express once again after an incredible nine years without the championship emerged as the champions.  The battle for the team of the millennium will now rage on between the Red Lite and Express and if this year was any indication the next chapter is yet to be written.

Responding to the challenge from the other centers, the Express have rebuilt themselves with a highly skilled and speedy group of athletes who responded with resolve and resilience to find a way to win even when it appeared that they were down and possibly out.  The Express, were not led by any one player yet this was an entire team effort with all twenty five players contributing for the good of the team.

Left winger Frankie Giustini scored the game winning goal as he came across the front of the net and buried a shot between the legs of a sprawled out netminder giving the Express a 3-1 lead with 8 minutes to play.  Red Lite attempted to come back, but were thwarted on every rush until very late in the game as they scored with eight seconds to play to make it 3-2.

The bronze medal game saw a repeat in a Ontario versus Quebec as the Mississauga Hawks scored three goals in the first period and held off the 2008 champions, Montreal Black Knights enroute to a 3-1 victory.

In the women’s division of play, the Ontario Rebels proudly represented Ontario in the country’s most prestigious event.   The Rebels, completed the week by defeating the hometown favorites, Manitoba Rage who had previously were unbeaten in a shoot out.

The two teams were clearly the class of the competition in the women’s division of play.  However, it was the Rage that scored first early in the second period, combined with their stellar defensive style and the outstanding ball stopping of all star goalie Delayne Bryan it would be a difficult road for the Rebels.  Difficult road….no problem, the team responded with the tying goal within the next five minutes and then the two teams would exchange quality scoring chances at both ends of the rink to only to be stopped by the goaltenders. 

This game would see double overtime played out where on four occasions the Rebel shooters looked to the sky for answers as the Rage goaltender was there for every challenge and each better than the last and most simply incredible.   

The game would come down to the fifth shooter and with Mel Roach coming down faking to the left and eluding the poke check and putting the ball in the top corner of the net for the go ahead marker.  However, there was still a chance for the Rage to extend the game, but Kathryn Padmore, Rebels netminder had other plans as she stopped the fifth shooter for the Rage and secured golden moment for the Ontario club.

For a complete list of game results and statistics visit www.cbha.com. 

The 32^nd anniversary gala banquet and awards ceremonies hosted by the Manitoba Ball Hockey Association was the only thing that overshadowed the tournament and the outstanding competition witnessed at the three venues by the people in Winnipeg.  In addition, it was only fitting that the association acknowledged some important individuals that have made notable contributions to ball hockey over the years in a special awards category during the 32^nd anniversary of the CBHA.