JUNIOR TEAM CANADA (53)
U18 Team Canada Announcemnent
CANADA – The Best Junior U-18 Players in the Country
The National Ball Hockey Association of Canada is once again pleased to announce the 2020 Under 18 Junior Team Canada ball hockey team roster that will represent Canada at the 2020 World Junior Ball Hockey Championships in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Held every two years, the World Junior Ball Hockey Championships showcases the best under-18 ball hockey players in the World. U18 Junior Team Canada returns to defend its 8 year reign as World Junior Ball Hockey Champions winning Gold in Pisek, Czech Republic in 2012; Budapest, Hungary in 2014; Prague, Czech Republic in 2016; and most recently in Nitra, Slovakia in 2018.
Leading the 2020 team will be head coach Shawn McGuire (JTC 2018, Oshawa Minor), assisted by Sam Gagnon (Penetang Minor) along with a pair of equipment managers Dan Blais & Jeff White, Team Doctor and physio Dr. Andrea Jones, and General Manager Scott Jacobi.
The team selection was led by GM Jacobi and his team of staff and scouts, and all players have been evaluated throughout the ball hockey season including league games, Provincial Championships, and ultimately at the CanAM Ball Hockey Championships.
“We are excited about the players we have named to Junior Team Canada. The selection process was extremely difficult, but I believe we have a team that is highly skilled and continue to push the pace at the World Championships and will once again battle for the Championship,” said Jacobi.
Jacobi continues, “The team will gather in Oshawa in June for a two-day camp prior to flying over to Finland so to allow players to familiarize themselves with what we would like to do as a team, but more importantly to have the players get to know one another and come together as a team. If the team comes together and bonds, if we work hard with and for one another, I believe the results at this Championship will again favour Canada. We are aware we have a target on our backs; every year the World teams continue to get better and stronger, and when playing against Team Canada, we know we will always get the other teams best game. But in the end, we are representing Canada Ball Hockey, we will set our goals high, and with our preparation, our work ethic, and our attention to detail that will get us to where we want to be.”
Commenting on the goal of the 2020 teams Steven Dockerty, National High Performance Director adds, “we have a Mission Statement - To prepare and assemble a team of the Country’s best junior ball hockey players to compete for gold at the WJC. To field a team that sets extraordinary standards for competitiveness, sportsmanship and team continuity. To create a ‘life experience’ for the members of the JTC and the officials.”
Ball Hockey is an amazing sport and these young men are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to compete with the best in the world and absorb the culture of each European host city” Dockerty concluded with “The ultimate goal is to ensure each player has a life experience that he can take with him for years to come. We are pleased with the scouting, selection and acceptance of the players chosen for the team.’
“Having spoken to all members of the coaching staffs throughout this process, I am confident that the work that they have put in will translate into a highly satisfying trip along with a good showing on the floor.” said Dockerty. “In the last four international competitions the staff thought out all the little things and planned accordingly because once you start traveling with this amount of players plus staff in a short period of time through major European cities, it all has to run smoothly from start to finish in order for these players to produce on the floor.”
People that tend to be missed in these types of announcements are the local coaches, associations and family members that have helped the players get to this level, along with these individuals all those that scouted for Junior Team Canada at local and regional events should take pride in this team, as they too played a big part in the team composition.
“On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada, I would like to congratulate the players and staff named today, along with their provincial associations, leagues, club teams, families, coaches and officials who have helped them along the way,” said Dockerty. With that said, it is with great pride that we present you the 2020 Junior Team
The 2020 Junior Team Canada U18 Team:
Goalies: Sean Grey, Tucker Clyne
Defencemen: Brayden McGuire, Cameron Clarke, Kael Mizen, Riley Thayer, Weston Bartlett, Zac Correia
Forwards: Brendan Browne, Brett Bressette, Ethan Larmand, Jack Gasperetti, Jake Lemere, Jeffery Galloway, Karsten Leonard, Keenan Scrimshaw, Liam Doyle, Nick Blais, Stefano Abbondi, Tyson Farrow
Your Passion…Your Dedication…Play Like A Champion…Play Like Team Canada…Commit To The Culture of Excellence….We Are Canada
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #BeGreat #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
The Best Junior U-16 Players in the Country
The Junior Team Canada Under 16 Program will be sending 22 players along with staff members to Rovaniemi, Finland in June 2020 to recapture gold, and defend their status as reigning World Champions.
The Junior Team Canada staff were very busy in 2019 scouting various events including the Provincial Peewee, Bantam and Junior Championships, and the CanAm Junior Championship which has led to the selections of this team.
This tournament will afford players, in most instances, with their first international experience and exposure to high level, elite ball hockey competition, and will serve as a good foundation in their individual growth and development. The players were selected, not just for their obvious high calibre skills, but for their character, personality and community reputation, earning them the right to represent Canada.
JTC U16 & U18 General Manager, Scott Jacobi stated, “the under 16 level is always an unknown in terms of how we will stack up against our competition, every year the competition improves and we always our opponents best game, but I am confident that the squad that has been assembled, and the staff assembled to guide them, will once again be competing on Sunday for gold."
Jacobi, in commenting on the coaching staff selected, "we are excited to have been able to assemble another technically strong, and experienced group of coaches and professional and support staff each of whom bring many years of Championship Provincial and International experience, and the other skills necessary to aid this collection of young men to once again battle for a World Championship".
Commenting on the goal of the 2020 teams Steven Dockerty, National High Performance Director adds, “we have a Mission Statement - To prepare and assemble a team of the Country’s best junior ball hockey players to compete for gold at the WJC. To field a team that sets extraordinary standards for competitiveness, sportsmanship and team continuity. To create a ‘life experience’ for the members of the JTC and the officials.”
Ball Hockey is an amazing sport and these young men are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to compete with the best in the world and absorb the culture of each European host city” Dockerty concluded with “The ultimate goal is to ensure each player has a life experience that he can take with him for years to come. We are pleased with the scouting, selection and acceptance of the players chosen for the team.’
Jacobi has been a part of junior ball hockey for over fifteen years and worked with the National Program in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 as well as 2020 and offers his view on WJC. “This tournament is not only about what will take place on the floor for these young men, but as most will be visiting Finland for the first time in their lives, it will be the people and the culture they will encounter and embrace as well that adds to the experience. As these young men grow up and have families of their own, it won’t be the medals that they come home with that will be most remembered, it will be the experiences and the stories brought back from visiting this part of the world, with this group of brothers that will make this a lifetime memory for them all” .
“Having spoken to all members of the coaching staffs throughout this process, I am confident that the work that they have put in will translate into a highly satisfying trip along with a good showing on the floor.” said Dockerty. “In the last three international competitions the staff thought out all the little things and planned accordingly because once you start traveling with this amount of players plus staff in a short period of time through major European cities, it all has to run smoothly from start to finish in order for these players to produce on the floor.”
People that tend to be missed in these types of announcements are the local coaches, associations and family members that have helped the players get to this level, along with these individuals all those that scouted for Junior Team Canada at local and regional events should take pride in this team, as they too played a big part in the team composition.
“On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada, I would like to congratulate the players and staff named today, along with their provincial associations, leagues, club teams, families, coaches and officials who have helped them along the way,” said Dockerty. With that said, it is with great pride that we present you the 2020 Junior Team Canada U16 players:
The 2020 Junior Team Canada U16 Team:
Goalies: Braeden Derks, Logan Vale
Defencemen: Jonathan Cabral, Joey Coates, Nicolas Lancione, Logan Leroux, Josh Marsden, Alex McManus, Duncan Schneider
Forwards: Luke Charlebois, Blake Peters-Davey, Jake Desaillier, Jack Dever, Luke Lalonde, Heiden Leonard, Nicholas McCallen, Corbin Roach, Christian Streek, Jack Thor, Carter Weissflog, Carter Wilson
Coaches: Nelson Lajeunesse, Joe Cochrane
RMT: Bobbi Jo Turner
Doctor: Dr. Andrea Jones
GM: Scott Jacobi
Your Passion…Your Dedication…Play Like A Champion…Play Like Team Canada…Commit To The Culture of Excellence….We Are Canada
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #BeGreat #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
The Best Junior U-20 Girls Players in the Country
CANADA – The Best Junior U-20 Girls Players in the Country
On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada and the High Performance Committee we are proud to announce the 2020 U-20 Girls Team Canada roster for the World Ball Hockey Federation Championship being hosted in Rovaniemi, Finland the week of June 30 - July 5.
The 22-player squad is comprised of seven players, who will be defending their gold medal from Nitra, Slovakia in 2018. The remaining fifteen players will be wearing the Canadian ball hockey jersey for the first time. Although the team is comprised of a lot of fresh, new talent in terms of international ball hockey, there is extensive ice hockey experience being added to the team roster this year.
We are excited about the group of players we have selected and are confident that they all possess the qualities we were looking for in a gold-medal team,” said Melissa Miller, General Manager/Head Coach. “These players have all earned their spot through hard work and dedication to the sport and I am excited to coach these young women at the international level. We have built a gold medal caliber club. Now we have to work on coming together as a team so that we can stand on our blueline at the end of the tournament and listen to our national anthem with gold medals around our necks.
Miller continued, “our staff brings forth a strong work ethic and ball hockey background and we are confident in their abilities to prepare our athletes as we continue to work towards the 2020 World Championships.”
“On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada, I would like to congratulate the players named today, along with their leagues, club teams, families, coaches and officials who have helped them along the way,” said Stephen Dockerty, High Performance Director. With that said, it is with great pride that we present you the 2020 U-20 Girls Team Canada:
Goalies: Josee Lalonde, Natasha Restrup
Defenseman: Sarah Bestic, Makenna Chokelal, Madison Fruhner, Olivia Lalonde, Mia Landry, Claire Lyons, Sierra Moreau, Madi Schroder
Forwards: Eden Conquer, Hanna Dundas, Abigail Giesbrecht, Olivia Klunowski, Saurin Lalonde, Lauren Martin, Alyssa Regalado, Lily Sedore, Elyssa Simpson, Hayley Szymanowski, Taylor Trussler, Mckenna Van Gelder,
Your Passion…Your Dedication…Play Like A Champion…Play Like Team Canada…Commit To The Culture of Excellence….We Are Canada
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #BeGreat #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
Rebecca Spence Added as Team Mentor
Vaughan – September 23, 2019 - On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada (NBHAC) and the Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty, we are proud to announce an addition to the 2020 Junior Girls U20 Team Canada staff for the World Junior Championships to be held in Rovaniemi, Finland the week of June 30-July 5.
Rebecca Spence who was part of the 2018 Girls U20 World Championship team has come on board as a Mentor.
Rebecca began playing ice hockey when she was four with the Elmvale Minor Hockey Association. She played ball hockey for the first time the following year with the Penetang-Midland Minor Ball Hockey Association, making the provincial team whenever she was eligible.
She found a real love and passion for hockey and played competitively growing up. She still continues to play with the Clearview IceCats Senior ice hockey tournament team and the Midland Battalion women's ball hockey team.
Ball hockey has given her the opportunity to excel at a sport she loves and she has made so many wonderful memories, lifelong friendships and have taken away so many life lessons that will continue to benefit me throughout the rest of my life.
Rebecca is beyond excited to be apart of the U20 Women's Team Canada Traveling to Findland in 2020, as their team mentor. “It is an honour to have been chosen for this position and can't wait to support all of these amazingly talented girls and experience yet another amazing opportunity with them and my fellow coaching staff.
Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty stated, in addition to finding and developing the best players, we are also proud to add Rebecca who has gone through the process as a player and we feel brings her experience and knowledge to assist the coaches in working with them towards the team goal of winning gold.”
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
The Top 25, U20 Canadian Players of All Time
To honour the 20th year of Junior U20 Ball Hockey, we have selected the top 25 players to wear the Red and White of which there has been 225 players.
The selections are based on the ten World U20 Championships that Canada has competed. The team was chosen based on the players' impact in the tournament at the highest possible level.
The selection was organized by the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada and named in August of 2019. The panel consisted of 5 individuals and included people who have worked in the game for an extended period and whose opinions are widely respected.
No effort was made to distinguish a first team or second team, the organization instead choosing only to select a 25 player roster (3G, 8D & 14F) and listed below:
Goalies ~ Kevin Bailie (2012), David Di Gironimo (2000), Brian Valentine (2010)
Defence ~ Peter Cappadocia (2000), Paolo Colaiacovo (2002), Hayden Cole (2014), Ryan Gieseler (2010), Jaisen Gill (2018), Evan Greer (2012), Patrick O’Keefe (2008), Justin Pender (2008)
Forwards ~ William Calverley (2018), Benoit Chin (2016), Benoit Gilbert (2002), Frankie Giustini Jr. (2008), Andrew Howes (2010), Matthew Paul (2010), Jason Pineo (2018), Teddy Purcell (2004), Jacob Robitaille (2012), Jack Scanlan (2016), Andrew Shaw (2010), Robert Slaney (2008), Quinn Syrydiuk (2016), Garrett Wilson (2010)
#WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
JTC U20 STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT
Vaughan – June 19, 2019 - On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada (NBHAC) and the Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty, we are proud to announce the 2020 Junior Team Canada staff for the World Junior Championships to be held in Rovaniemi, Finland the week of June 30-July 5.
Canada has had incredible success at international competitions over the years and the U18 program will be sending 22 players along with staff members to defend our World Championship gold against the best of the rest of the world.
The Junior Team Canada staff will be very busy in the coming months including attendance at the CanAm Junior Championships in Brampton from which Junior Team Canada 2020 players will be selected. The CanAm’s offer elite level competition at which players with prior international experience compete alongside their peers battling for one of the available roster spots.
Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty who has represented Canada in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 is now once again spearheading the entire Junior program, and had the following to say about how the program has taken shape. “Our 2020 squads will definitely be competing for the gold again. Even though Canada has won in the past, we continually work hard to improve and advance the program. We have established a success process for building a team of strong individuals and players from across the country.”
Dockerty continued, “In addition to finding and developing the best players, we are also proud of the strength and quality of of our team executives, support staff and group of coaches, who all bring with them years of success in their respective minor programs for numerous years.
It is with great pleasure to introduce the following selections for the 2020 U20 Junior Team Canada program:
U20 General Manager: Mauro Cugini
Cugini passion for the junior program is what drives him since 2008. He returns after finishing second in 2018 and under Cugini, the U20 program has only lost one game since 2008 tying a game once in 2008 and twice in 2012 and going undefeated in 2010, the first time that occurred in this division of play.
He looks forward to this new challenge in returning gold to Canada with a new group of players and staff. The general manager is an extension of the staff and reflection of the Junior Team Canada program and he hopes to blend the combination to win gold for a sixth time.
Cugini stated, '“I am eager and excited to get started with the process and scouting at the CanAm Junior Championships, as well as working with the newly appointed staff."
He continued, "I’m hoping to utilize my experience from nearly two decades in athlete development and improve the NBHAC JTC player experience as we have the best players and program in the world."
"Cugini is an important and invaluable to the program said Dockerty.". “He’s incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and it shines through in all he has already done in the game and couldn’t ask for a better person to lead our team in Finland."
U20 Head Coach: Daniel Ranalli
‘The General’ returns to international competition and is regarded as the sports best coach of all time. His philosophy and success comes down to three core pillars - culture, talent, and the system of play/game style. He stresses great culture as a must-have ingredient at the elite level, regardless of how good the other two factors are. Without this there is nothing.
He was the captain and perennial leader of the Fernview Rangers and was selected to five League All-Star selections and he moved the ball with dexterity and precision, amassed over 400 regular season points at the AAA level of competition while capturing titles in three different OBHA leagues.
He was the longest standing member of the Rangers Ball Hockey Club, arguably the most established (1977 - 1996) and celebrated organization in OBHA history, whose personal and team accomplishments at all levels of competition are a testament to his commitment and dedication to the game as a player throughout the years.
Ranalli officially retired along with the storied Ranger franchise in 1996. "The General", who was the recipient of the prestigious 'Golden Jet' Award for a lifetime of excellence in the game, capped off his illustrious 20 seasons of ball hockey that year by commandeering Canada to the Gold Medal at the inaugural World Championships of Ball Hockey in Bratislava, Slovakia as the coach of the team.
Ranalli is a student of the game with a masterful ability at team dynamics and group building. He will teach, guide and elevate players to their potential.
Oh and the best story teller in the sport, the program welcomes, ‘The General’.
U20 Assistant Coach: Quinn Syrydiuk
Quinn has a great understanding of the international style of play and an appreciation of what it will take as a player to compete at the World level. He was a player on Junior 2016 gold medal winning team and 2018 Men’s Team Canada that won silver in Moscow.
Quinn’s greatest strengths will be to teach these young men and prepare under his guidance and coaching. The tactician, motivator and leader will give the 2020 team an opportunity to win gold, but the bigger message will stay with the young men they coach for rest of their lives.
The program welcomes CQ!
Amanda Spence, Registered Massage Therapist
Amanda returns to the U20 bench where she has been since 2012 and brings with her the ability to put her players at ease, and seek treatment when necessary and before an ailment becomes and injury, keeping all of the players in her charge ready for play throughout the Championships.
She added, “representing Canada at any sporting event is a huge honor and responsibility and am pleased to be a part of the 2020 JTC U-20 program and look forward to meeting the staff and players.”
These individuals together will select and direct the best ball hockey players in the World and by volunteering their time and skills will have an enormous impact creating the environment necessary for success at the 2020 U20 World Championships. Together they will find a way to bring a collection of individual players together, elevate their play, and build the team chemistry necessary to repeat as Champions. And while our stated goal is clear, to bring home gold at every Championship, as a staff we also measure success in creating a life lasting experience for all that offers new friendships that lead to shared memories and moments, both on and off the floor, that will endure for many years to come.
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
U18 Staff Announcement
Vaughan – May 29, 2019 - On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada (NBHAC) and the Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty, we are proud to announce the 2020 Junior Team Canada staff for the World Junior Championships to be held in Rovaniemi, Finland the week of June 30-July 5.
Canada has had incredible success at international competitions over the years and the U18 program will be sending 22 players along with staff members to defend our World Championship gold against the best of the rest of the world.
The Junior Team Canada staff will be very busy in the coming months including attendance at the CanAm Junior Championships in Brampton from which Junior Team Canada 2020 players will be selected. The CanAm’s offer elite level competition at which players with prior international experience compete alongside their peers battling for one of the available roster spots.
Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty who has represented Canada in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 is now once again spearheading the entire Junior program, and had the following to say about how the program has taken shape. “Our 2020 squads will definitely be competing for the gold again. Even though Canada has won in the past, we continually work hard to improve and advance the program. We have established a success process for building a team of strong individuals and players from across the country.”
Dockerty continued, “In addition to finding and developing the best players, we are also proud of the strength and quality of of our team executives, support staff and group of coaches, who all bring with them years of success in their respective minor programs for numerous years.
It is with great pleasure to introduce the following selections for the 2020 U18 Junior Team Canada program:
General Manager: Scott Jacobi
Jacobi has been looked upon in the ball hockey world as a builder, from his local association to provincial, national, and international teams. The NBHAC JTC High Performance team knew he was the right person for this program. His long list of achievements include coaching at four Nationals coming home with three gold and one silver. Internationally he was bronze as the head coach while with the U16 team in 2012, and World Championship gold in 2014, 2016 & 2018 as head coach of the U18 team and general manager of both the U16 & U18 teams. His coaching abilities and experience has transitioned to a management role with ease and he will once again be responsible for the U16 & U18 JTC programs.
Head Coach: Shawn McGuire
Shawn, served on staff with the U16 & U18 program in 2018, and now elevates his presence to that of Head Coach. An elite level coach on the ice as well as the floor, Shawn has also enjoyed success at the local and Provincials levels of competition. Shawn is a true student of the game, not only bringing his deep technical knowledge of the game, but he is always on the lookout for innovative and new tactics that he can deploy to give his teams that winning edge.
Assistant Coach: Samuel Gagnon
Sam makes his JTC coaching debut in 2020 but brings with him years of experience as both a ball hockey player and a coach. Sam has lead his local and Provincial teams to multiple Championships over the years. Sam is known for his ability to communicate to his players and get his teams to play the game “the right way”.
The JTC U18 Coaching staff’s will be complimented with a Championship level professional support team including:
Dr. Andi Jones
Andi will serve as JTC doctor for all 4 of our attending teams, in addition to serving as the U18 team trainer/RMT. Andi is a veteran of the Team Canada program serving may tours with the Junior, Men’s & Women’s, and the Master’s programs. A true professional, Dr. Jones sets the standard of excellence that the Team Canada ball hockey program has become known for.
These individuals together will select and direct the best ball hockey players in the World and by volunteering their time and skills will have an enormous impact creating the environment necessary for success at the 2020 U18 World Championships. Together they will find a way to bring a collection of individual players together, elevate their play, and build the team chemistry necessary to repeat as Champions. And while our stated goal is clear, to bring home gold at every Championship, as a staff we also measure success in creating a life lasting experience for all that offers new friendships that lead to shared memories and moments, both on and off the floor, that will endure for many years to come.
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
U16 Staff Announcement
Vaughan – May 27, 2019 - On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada (NBHAC) and the Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty, we are proud to announce the 2020 Junior Team Canada staff for the World Junior Championships to be held in Rovaniemi, Finland the week of June 30-July 5.
Canada has had incredible success at international competitions over the years and the U16 program will be sending 22 players along with staff members to defend our World Championship gold against the best of the rest of the world.
The Junior Team Canada staff will be very busy in the coming months including attendance at the CanAm Junior Championships in Brampton from which Junior Team Canada 2020 players will be selected. The CanAm’s offer elite level competition at which players with prior international experience compete alongside their peers battling for one of the available roster spots.
Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty who has represented Canada in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 is now once again spearheading the entire Junior program, and had the following to say about how the program has taken shape. “Our 2020 squads will definitely be competing for the gold again. Even though Canada has won in the past, we continually work hard to improve and advance the program. We have established a success process for building a team of strong individuals and players from across the country.”
Dockerty continued, “In addition to finding and developing the best players, we are also proud of the strength and quality of of our team executives, support staff and group of coaches who all bring with them years of success in their respective minor programs for numerous years.”
It is with great pleasure to introduce the following selections for the 2020 U16 Junior Team Canada program:
General Manager: Scott Jacobi
Jacobi has been looked upon in the ball hockey world as a builder, from his local association to provincial, national, and international teams. The NBHAC JTC High Performance team knew he was the right person for this program. His long list of achievements include coaching at four Nationals coming home with three gold and one silver. Internationally he was bronze as the head coach while with the U16 team in 2012, and World Championship gold in 2014, 2016 & 2018 as head coach of the U18 team and general manager of both the U16 & U18 teams. His coaching abilities and experience has transitioned to a management role with ease and he will once again be responsible for the U16 & U18 JTC programs.
Head Coach: Nelson Lajeunesse
Nelson has a great understanding of the international style of play and an appreciation of what it will take as a player to compete at the World level. He was a player on Men’s Team Canada as was a mentor with the 2008 U20 team. Nelson has 10 years of ball hockey coaching experience along with 18+ years playing the game. His greatest strengths are to lead by example and these young men will learn and prepare under his guidance and coaching. Nelson returns in 2020, and as a tactician, motivator and leader he will once again give the U16 JTC team the opportunity to defend their World Championship title, all the while offering his players the experience and opportunity of a lifetime.
Assistant Coach: Joe Cochrane
Joe returns to the U16 bench in 2020 after making his successful International debut in 2018. The 2016 OBHA Minor Coach of the Year, “Grocery Joe” as he is known to his players for his inventory of snacks to help then off the floor, is every bit the players coach on it. Joe brings years of local and Provincial coaching experience to the team and looks to build on the foundation he set in 2018 with the U16 program
The JTC U16 Coaching staff’s will be complimented with a Championship level professional support team including:
Bobbi Jo Turner, RMT U16
Bobbi Jo returns to the U16 bench in 2020 once again as the team trainer and RMT, and brings with her the ability to put her players at ease, and seek treatment when necessary and before an ailment becomes and injury, keeping all of the players in her charge ready for play throughout the Championships.
These individuals together will select and direct the best ball hockey players in the World and by volunteering their time and skills will have an enormous impact creating the environment necessary for success at the 2020 U16 World Championships. Together they will find a way to bring a collection of individual players together, elevate their play, and build the team chemistry necessary to repeat as Champions. And while our stated goal is clear, to bring home gold at every Championship, as a staff we also measure success in creating a life lasting experience for all that offers new friendships that lead to shared memories and moments, both on and off the floor, that will endure for many years to come.
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
Girls U20 Staff Announcement
Vaughan – May 10, 2019 - On behalf of the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada (NBHAC) and the Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty, we are proud to announce the 2020 Junior Girls U20 Team Canada staff for the World Junior Championships to be held in Rovaniemi, Finland the week of June 30-July 5.
Canada has had incredible success at international competitions over the years and program will be sending 22 players along with staff members to capture gold against the rest of the world. The Junior Team Canada staff will be scouting the CanAm Junior Championships in Brampton to select the players for the World Junior Championships.
Team Canada High Performance Director, Steve Dockerty who was represented Canada in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 is now spear heading the entire Junior program, had the following to say about how the program has taken shape. “Our 2020 squads will definitely be competing for the gold again. Even Canada has won in the past we will work harder to improve the program. We want players that will be part of the Team Canada family for years to come. We have established a team of strong individuals and players from across the country.
Dockerty continued, "We have such a strong group of coaches who all have been with the sport of ball hockey for numerous years.”
It is with great pleasure to introduce the following selections for the 2020 Girls U20 Junior Team Canada program:
Head Coach: Melissa Miller
Coach Miller success comes down to three core pillars - culture, talent, and the system of play/game style. She stresses great culture as a must-have ingredient at the elite level, regardless of how good the other two factors are. Without this there is nothing. She has used this as a player very early playing in various leagues and has elevated her play to the Provincial ‘A’ league and continues to represent Canada on Women’s Team Canada where she has won three Gold medals and one Silver in her four World Championship appearances. She currently coaches the boys ball hockey school team and Miller was an assistant coach in 2018 and returns to the program as head coach. She is a student of the game with a masterful ability at team dynamics and group building. She will teach, guide and elevate players to their potential.
Assistant Coach: Isabel Menard
Isabel has a great understanding of the international style of play and an appreciation of what it will take as a player to compete at the World level. She continues to be an active player in various women’s and co-ed leagues and member of Women’s Team Canada. Isabel has 5 years coaching experience and has coached in Switzerland and is currently coaching fundamentals to young girls. Her greatest strengths are to lead by example and these young women will learn and prepare under her guidance and coaching. The tactician, motivator and leader will give the 2020 team an opportunity to win gold, but the bigger message will stay with the young women they coach for rest of their lives.
Assistant Coach: Natasha King
Natasha has been playing the sport for 20 years and has had success at the U14, U16, U18 Girls Ontario provincial championships. Since graduating to the Women’s division been a member of Team Canada capturing three Gold medals and one Silver in her four World Championship appearances. Her ball hockey experience is not limited to playing as she has coached both ball and ice hockey. She has coached at the local minor ball hockey house league program and been a member of the U14 provincial team. Currently she is coaching a midget girl’s ice hockey team. Her strengths are her dedication, hard work, spirit, and knowledge of the game.
These individuals will have a big impact on the chemistry of the team. If success can be defined in other ways, like making progress, giving effort, how much did we learn, or how much better were we at the end of the tournament than at the beginning, the staff will be teaching important life lessons to the team and bringing home gold.
The NBHAC will be announcing the U16, U18, U20 staffs in the following weeks and support staff in June.
#wbhf2020rovaniemi #WeReady #WeAreTeamCanada #BeTheStandard
Junior World Championship in Finland
The World Ball Hockey Federation Junior Championships will be hosted in Rovaniemi, Finland.
The WBHF Junior Championships is largest ball hockey tournament offering U14, U16, U18, U20 and Girls U20 divisions and in 2020 the tournament will take place June 30 to July 5.
The Junior Championships are hosted bi-annually and will welcome over 500 players, coaches, team managers, club officials and families.
One of the features for the Championships will be the Athletes Village which has four hotel properties less than 100 metres from the double pad arena. The arena is part of a bigger sport complex which is an official Olympic training centre for the following various sports, ice hockey, cross country skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding, figure skating, paralympic skiing and athletes from around the world visit for their training.
The age of birth’s for the 2020 World Junior Championships are below with the current World Champion):
U14 – 2006 and 2007 (Slovakia)
U16 – 2004 and 2005 (Canada)
U18 – 2002 and 2003 (Canada)
U20 – 2000 and 2001 (Slovakia)
Girls U20 – 2000, 2001 and 2002 (Canada)
WBHF President, Domenic Di Gironimo, “this is an exciting opportunity for the WBHF as we welcomed St Hockey recently that have programs in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and expanding into other European countries in the next five years” he continued, “the partnership with St Hockey and the Russian and China Olympic committees will assist in growing the sport.”
The championships already have received confirmation s from Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden, United States of America and hosts Finland and look to welcome other teams in the coming months with final confirmations in February 2020.
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