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Category News

USA Ball Hockey Unanimously Voted Official Member Status with ISBHF

International Street and Ball Hockey Federation Votes Unanimously Granting USA Ball Hockey Official Member Status

BOSTON — USA Ball Hockey (USABH) is honored and excited to announce that we have been granted full member status with the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF), the official worldwide governing body of the sport.  USABH will now have full authority to develop teams and send them to ISBHF World Championships for all divisions – Mens, Womens, Juniors, and Masters.  The vote took place last night on an ISBHF conference call, with the resulting vote being unanimous among the member countries to have USA Ball Hockey join the ISBHF family of nations.

“This is an honor and a privilege.” said USABH President Chris Banks.  “We are ecstatic to be able to join the ISBHF family with official member status.  I offer my sincerest thanks to all the USABH staff, volunteers, and their families that supported them as they dedicated numerous hours and overcame substantial challenges to help drive the organization towards this outcome.  Becoming an official member of the ISBHF has been the goal of this organization since USABH first formed.  We look forward to providing the United States with teams that will compete for Gold Medals at all future ISBHF World Championships.”

The ISBHF has been monitoring the progress of USABH and how the USABH leadership team has been developing the National Programs.  They also took a keen eye towards the work USABH has done in growing the sport by sponsoring clinics, holding camps, focusing on and teaching the youth of the sport, and even having players appear on NHL Network to help promote this great sport of Ball Hockey.  ISBHF President George Gortsos was more than satisfied with what the ISBHF board saw presented by USABH.

“The ISBHF is proud to formally welcome USA Ball Hockey to the ISBHF Family.  We all believe that USA Ball Hockey will work hard to bring the USA family together within that great hockey nation, and quickly become a leading National organization in our sport.  The ISBHF would like to wish all USA Ball Hockey players, referees, coaches, support staff, family, and executives a great future in the years ahead.  We look forward to this partnership having them in the ISBHF family as we all work together as one sport to reach the Olympic elevator.”

USABH Director of Media and Marketing Chris Bokuniewicz added “Having worked with Chris Banks for over 6 years, I knew that he was passionate about getting USABH to the world stage.  When he approached me to help USABH in their mission, I had no hesitations about joining.  This vote simply confirms what I had felt then and feel now, that USABH has the right leadership in place which will lead this organization to a Gold Medal in a future ISBHF World Championship while continuing to grow the game here in America.  I’m honored to be a part of it, and I look forward to working with the ISBHF from the Media & Marketing side to help continue advancing this incredible sport towards the future with an eye on the Olympics. USABH has world class talent in the right positions, both on and off the rink, and I fully expect us to be competitive at every future World Championship.

USABH Vice President Tom Ruiz added “We’re very proud that the ISBHF saw how committed we are to the sport, and that we have spent many hours preparing for this vote with the goal of joining the ISBHF.  I couldn’t be happier, and I know the team is excited to get to work.  This is a very proud day for all of us at USA Ball Hockey, and it wouldn’t have been possible without everyone here at USABH coming together to make this outcome a reality.”

The next ISBHF World Championship is scheduled for 2020, with both Juniors and Masters Championship tournaments taking place in Europe.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @USAballhockey or search: USA Ball Hockey

USABH is the premier ball hockey organization in the United States, possessing a comprehensive reach nationally at all levels of play thanks to strategic alliances with key organizations. We are focused on growing the game, from beginner youth levels through international competition. USABH facilitates United States National teams for all official Divisions – Juniors, Mens, Womens and Masters.

Media inquiries:  Please contact Marketing and Media Director Chris Bokuniewicz at cbokuniewicz@usaballhockey.com

 

Men’s Masters Team USA Roster Announcement

Congratulations to these outstanding men for making the 2020 USA Men’s Masters Team USA roster!  Please join us in wishing them all the best in their quest for Gold!

  • General Manager – Chris Caplan
  • Head Coach – Jeff Jordan
  • Assistant Coach – Rip Manion
  • Assistant Coach – Mark O’Neill

 

GM Chris Caplan and Head Coach Jeff Jordan are entering the team into the Holiday Bash tournament in Feasterville, PA, which is organized by Cool Hockey Events.  They plan to use the tournament as the first warm up and also as a measuring stick to determine where the team stands now in terms of preparation versus where they need to be.

Congratulations again to all the players!

USA Ball Hockey Women's General Manager Steps Down
USA Ball Hockey Women’s General Manager Steps Down

USA Ball Hockey regretfully announces the resignation of Jason Kelly from the program. Jason’s years of dedication and commitment to the sport has helped propel ball hockey in the United States to levels never before reached.

Throughout Jason’s tenure managing the Women’s teams, he has been the guiding light for hundreds of women players.  He has been a steadfast advocate for the Women’s game without equal. Jason leaves the program as a multi-medal winning General Manager across every division of Women’s Ball Hockey.  His contributions will be missed. Jason has elected to focus his time more on his local community and most importantly, his family. 

USA Ball Hockey’s President Chris Banks had this to say:  “On behalf of everyone in the ball hockey community, thank you for everything.  Your impact on the game will be felt for decades. It is upon the foundation you built which the Women’s National Program will grow and strive for more success.  Your spirit and and knowledge will continue to be there with us every step of the way.”

Pittsburgh Chipmunk All Stars Tournament

Pittsburgh area Chipmunk Dek Hockey All Stars.This past labor day weekend, the Pittsburgh chipmunk division, 4-7 year olds, had their last tournament of the summer in Brookline, PA.  Six teams competed so hard and left everything out there. Everyone involved went above and beyond. Every team had fun, every player had a smile on their face.
The first semi-final of the day had Team Pittsburgh Sharks knocking off the Murrysville Dragons. Then the second semi-final had the Cranberry Screaming Eagles beating the Murrysville Sharks.

In the the finals under the lights. Cranberry came out strong going up 2-0 in the first period. Team Pittsburgh answered with 2 goals of their own in the second to tie up the game, and then Cranberry went up 3-2 in the 3rd. Team Pittsburgh tied it up late in the 3rd forcing OT. They then finished the comeback winning it in OT with 35 seconds left.

Pittsburgh area Chipmunk Dek Hockey All Stars.This summer was awesome for this chipmunk division. 4 tournaments, 4 great finals and a bunch of nail biters along the way.
Thanks to Dan Cunningham and Stacy Rush from Brookline for running a great event over the weekend. Thanks to John Sylvestor for reffing all day. And lastly, thanks to the hockey families for joining us in these tournaments and making great memories with your kids.

Watch out for next summer, this chipmunk division is growing. Bigger and better things coming.  These kids are future USA Ball Hockey players in the making. Come get on board next summer!

Junior Division Women’s U20 News – Staff and Coaching Selections

USA Ball Hockey Assistant Director of Hockey Operations Announces U20 Women’s Staff and Coaching Selections

BOSTON — USA Ball Hockey Assistant Director of Hockey Operations, Alessandra Glista (Winthrop, MA) announces the management and coaching staffs for the USA Women’s National U20 Team that will compete at the 2020 Women’s Juniors World Championship in Slovakia.

Dorene Sheets (Grand Forks, BC) has been named the head coach of the 2020 team Kristi Kehoe (North Andover, MA) and Paul Paradine (Ithaca, NY) as assistant coaches. Thomas Bricklemyer (Philadelphia, PA), the goaltending coach for the US Women’s National Team, will also serve as the Goalie Consultant for the junior’s program.

Sheets comes with a wealth of coaching experience across all levels in ice hockey and ball hockey. The assistant coach for the 2019 USWNT that will compete at the ISBHF World Championship, Sheets was the assistant coach for the 2017 USWNT that won the program’s first-ever silver medal. She also served as the assistant coach in 2007.

Kehoe was a four-year member of Northeastern University’s women’s ice hockey team. She currently serves as the program director and head coach of the 19U Boston Jr Shamrocks girls ice hockey program and the director of girls player development for USA Hockey’s New England District. Previously she was the head coach of the Kunlun Red Star Women’s Jr ice hockey team, assistant coach for the Chinese National U18 team and head coach of New England College women’s ice hockey team.

Paradine has served as a coach with the University of Toronto’s women’s ice hockey and has served as a coach in the Toronto Women’s Ball Hockey League, the Northwestern Toronto Women’s Ice Hockey Association and the United Women’s Ball Hockey Foundation in Massachusetts. He was a member of the USA Men’s Old Glory Hockey Club for the World Masters Ball Hockey Championships in 2018.

Bricklemyer, or Mr. B, was the goaltending coach for the 2017 silver-medal winning USWNT and the 2018 silver-medal winning master’s team. An ice hockey coach who has coached all levels, he helped guide the 2017 women’s program to a 1.85 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

 

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @USAballhockey or search: USA Ball Hockey.

USABH is the premier ball hockey organization in the United States and possesses a comprehensive reach nationally, at all levels of play, thanks to strategic alliances with key organizations. We are focused on growing the game, from the beginner youth levels through international competition. USABH’s intention is to facilitate national teams and unify all juniors, men’s, women’s and masters programs and events.

Media inquiries:  Please contact Marketing and Communications Director Chris Bokuniewicz at cbokuniewicz@usabh.org.

Women’s Masters Division News – Staff and Coaching Selections

USA Ball Hockey Assistant Director of Hockey Operations Announces Women’s Staff and Coaching Selections

BOSTON — USA Ball Hockey Assistant Director of Hockey Operations,  Alessandra Glista (Winthrop, MA) announces the management and coaching staffs for the USA Women’s National Masters Team Blue and Team Red that will compete at the 2020 Women’s Masters Ball Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic.

Angelo Terrana (West Islip, NY)  has been named general manager and Chris Thorp (Kelowna, B.C.) as assistant GM. Terrana comes to the program having served as the assistant general manager of the USA Women’s National Team that won silver at the 2017 ISBHF World Championship and a two-time player for the men’s Masters program. Thorp is currently an assistant coach under Terrana for the First Ladies Ball Hockey Team based in Washington, D.C.

Shawn Mulcahy (Lynn, MA) returns as the head coach of Team Blue, as well as his assistant coaches Jason Glista (Winthrop, MA) and Paul White (Lynnfield, MA). Team Red’s coaching staff comprised of head coach Jackie Spiegel (Brooklyn, NY) and assistants Jake Denne (McKeesport, PA) and Chris Howdeshell (Limestone, ME) return as well. Thomas Bricklemyer (Philadelphia, PA), the goaltending coach for the US Women’s National Team, will also serve as the goalie consultant for the master’s program.

Mulcahy, will be making his fourth appearance as the head coach for Team Blue. The three-time ISBHF Women’s Masters Championship silver medalist also served as an assistant coach for the US Women’s National Team in 2011.

Glista, who won a silver medal with the USWNT at the 2017 ISBHF World Ball Hockey Championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic, will be running Team Blue’s offense for the fourth consecutive year. A three-time masters silver medalist, he also served as an assistant coach for the USWNT in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

White, who served under Mulcahy in 2016 and 2018, returns as the defensive coach for Team Blue. A silver medalist at the ISBHF Women’s Masters Championship in 2016 and 2018, White has served as a player and coach with the Lynn (MA) Seahawks ice hockey program for many years.

Spiegel and her staff led Team Red to its first-ever bronze medal at the 2018 Women’s Masters Championship in Bermuda. In 2016, she served as an assistant coach for Team Red after playing on the inaugural team in 2014. In addition to her work with the master’s program, she was an assistant coach for the first-ever women’s U20 team that competed on the international stage in 2018 and is the assistant GM of the USWNT.

Denne will be returning for his third tournament as the offensive coach for Team Red. He has coached the Stanley Cupcakes (D.C.) women’s program for more than four years, with his focus on working with the forwards. An experienced coach, Denne spent a year as a graduate assistant football coach at Carnegie Mellon University.

Howdeshell is returning as the defensive coach for USA’s Team Red after holding the same position at the 2016 and 2018 tournament. An experienced ball hockey player at the tournament level, Howdeshell began coaching in 2015 with the Stanley Cupcakes (D.C.) women’s program.

Bricklemyer, or Mr. B, was the goaltending coach for the 2017 silver-medal winning USWNT and the 2018 silver-medal winning master’s team. An ice hockey coach who has coached all levels, he helped guide the 2017 women’s program to a 1.85 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

 

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @USAballhockey or search: USA Ball Hockey.

USABH is the premier ball hockey organization in the United States and possesses a comprehensive reach nationally, at all levels of play, thanks to strategic alliances with key organizations. We are focused on growing the game, from the beginner youth levels through international competition. USABH’s intention is to facilitate national teams and unify all juniors, men’s, women’s and masters programs and events.

Media inquiries:  Please contact Marketing and Communications Director Chris Bokuniewicz at cbokuniewicz@usabh.org.