NATIONAL BALL HOCKEY
ASSOCIATION OF CANADA

The National Ball Hockey Association of Canada (NBHAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mario Facciuolo to the position of Head Coach for our Women’s Team Canada (WTC) program which will look to defend their championship in Pittsburgh in 2015.

Coach Facciuolo’s appointment to this position comes after the NBHAC had conducted several interviews of prospective candidates.   Facciuolo has had previous coaching history as the head coach of the Burlington Brownies, Women’s ‘A’ Provincial Champions (2012 & 2013) in the Ontario Ball Hockey Association (OBHA) and as Assistant Coach with the Women’s Team Canada program winning gold in Toronto, 2013.

Mario's passion for sports is rooted in his Hamilton central mountain upbringing where there was always a pick-up game to be played and a team to join. His incredible work ethic is rooted in his Italian upbringing where there was always an expectation to work hard, play hard and show respect. This foundation of passion and work ethic have made him the coach he is today.  Mario's strength as a coach is in his ability to see the whole picture and the attention to details. Even while watching a hockey game for instance, he is more often than not watching the play that is happening behind the person who is controlling the puck--such practice has allowed him to become a coach who develops systems and player skill that exploit other teams' weaknesses while capitalizing on the individual strengths of his own players.

Mario's involvement in ball hockey commenced in 1980 as a player in Ancaster, Ontario. In 1999, he became involved in coaching his wife's team in a 4 on 4 women's ball hockey league in Dundas, Ontario and he never looked back. Mario's next stop was the Burlington Ball Hockey League where he has coached both women's and boys teams since 2005--he is a 12 time winning ball hockey coach at the league, provincial, national and international level. His profession is that of a Site-Superintendent and he lives in Ancaster, Ontario with his wife Michelle and their two children, Megan and Mario Jr.

Facciuolo commented, “I am thrilled with the opportunity we have in the NBHAC.  Our first goal is to put together the best staff possible and in this regard believe that we have the opportunity to effectively merge the best and brightest within the sport.  I am truly impressed by the enthusiasm with the NBHAC.  During my discussions it was very clear that they are committed to operating a professional organization and continuing on the path of building a winner.  To have a plan and to put all those aspects in place to work towards the goal is very important and along with the management of the program look forward to begin scouting and recruiting for the opportunity to wear the RED & WHITE and coming to know the group of talented players in Canada.”

Facciuolo stresses the teaching of the fundamentals of the game and strives to work in a team environment which supports the development of a strong work ethic where players and coaches can work together to achieve excellence. 

NBHAC President Steve Rumsey stated, “I have had the pleasure to get to know Mario the last few years with his team’s success and as an assistant on the Women’s Team Canada team and his preparation and passion is incredible.  He is always at the rink scouting and studying the opposition in preparation for the games.   He understands and commands respect of the players with the understanding that they are not only players, but Ambassadors for the Sport and Canada both on and off the floor.”

Facciuolo stated, “this is a tremendous honor and I am looking forward to making my contribution to the program.  Throughout my years in the sport I have enjoyed working with so many tremendous athletes with varying backgrounds from ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse and this is a wonderful opportunity to develop and work with these great up and coming players.  As a member of the 2013 World Championship team I look forward to working with the NBHAC, the assistant coaches, support staff and the players.

The NBHAC is proud to have a proven winner and leader leading the Women’s Team Canada program to defend gold in Pittsburgh in 2015.

The Junior Team Canada’s goal is to have a program that not only produces elite ball hockey players but also creates a culture that clearly defines what it means to play for a Team Canada.

The National Ball Hockey Association of Canada (NBHAC) is pleased to announce Stephen Dockerty from Beeton, ON as the NBHAC High Performance Director.

Stephen brings an incredible expertise to this position through his dedication to the sport as a player, official, volunteer, executive and leader. The NBHAC is very excited at the passion and leadership he brings for advancing the game and his incredible vision for the sport.

Stephen was one of the first executive members of the Beeton Ball Hockey League and is a father to four kids of which three maintain his passion at the local and provincial level of play. His leadership shines with every player he comes across as evident with his successes as a player winning the Master’s Provincial Championship, but his greatest strengths are in relating to people from as young as Learn To Play through to Junior at the local, provincial, national and international levels of competition.

Over the twelve years he has coached at the house league in addition to coaching competitively in eight Provincials winning gold at six of them, a Summer Games Championship at the Girls U18, three junior National events and as General Manager of the Junior Team Canada program winning seven gold, one silver and one bronze since 2008. He is a wonderful sounding board for his players and staff ensuring he assists in providing the extra time to keep the players and staff focused and always maintaining his leadership.

He is very passionate about the sport and about giving opportunities while creating safe and supportive environments for growth at the men’s, women’s and minor’s level of play. He will work with the five General Managers and Staffs to share his vision of the sport and will work with all members across the country to continue growing the game nationally and internationally.

Leadership comes from the top and there is no finer leader within the sport and we all look forwards to working with Mr. Stephen Dockerty