USA Ball Hockey and the Canadian Ball Hockey Association Team Up for a Youth Extravaganza
USA Ball Hockey (USABH) is excited to announce that it will partner with the Ontario Ball Hockey Federation and the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) to host its first ever youth event called “The Future Stars Invitational.” This showcase will be held May 29-31, 2020 at the state-of-the-art Buffalo RiverWorks Sports and Entertainment Complex. This complex is the city’s newest premier waterfront boating, sports, music and entertainment destination located along the banks of the Buffalo River.
“We are more than just a hockey rink,” says Sean Green, the Director of Athletics and Sponsorship for the complex. “We have entertainment for all, such as rock climbing, zip lining, an escape room, and more.”
OBHF President Shelley Callaghan, and USABH’s Director of Hockey Operations Department Cory Herschk, are working together to provide an opportunity for U14 and U12 ball hockey players in Canada to match-up with the best players the United States has to offer in a USA vs Canada border ball hockey battle. Four different states, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, plus a USA Elite team formed with the rest of the USA’s best and most talented players, will each produce state all-star teams led by General Managers Eddie Costa (Fall River, MA), Bob Keefe (Gloucester, NJ), Ben Dennis (Buffalo, NY), Nick Lupo (Long Island, NY), Mike Benkart (Cranberry, PA), and Mike DiLorenzo (Los Angeles, CA).
USA teams will be complete with 18-22 players, and a staff that will include coaches, trainers and equipment managers to give these prospects an experience similar in nature to that of being part of a USA Ball Hockey locker room. Once staff is put in place, player evaluation and selections will begin in your region.
The event will follow the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) rules and guidelines. This will include player of the game awards along with champion and runner-up prizes. USA coaches and players will also host a youth clinic for local players. A Fan Zone will be open to the public with a live Disc Jockey, raffles, and auctioned memorabilia.
“Buffalo is a city that we are targeting on our ‘Grow the Game’ initiative,” says Herschk. “We are working with Ben Dennis, and junior ice hockey programs in the Buffalo area to show coaches like Ben that the game of ball hockey translates to the ice very well, especially by way of off-season training.”
One of the goals of this event is to showcase our sport in a town that has high interest in developing youth programs. Added Shelley Callaghan – “It is no secret that Canadian players take off the skates and lace-up their shoes to play ball hockey in the off-season. Even Sidney Crosby’s Canadian Olympic ice hockey team has taken their skills to the ball hockey rink to prepare for tournaments in the past.”
The CBHA has been known to produce great young talent throughout the years, with NHL players such as Taylor Hall of the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano. Future NHL prospects in Canada will now be facing off against the finest America has to offer. USA Ball Hockey aspires to one day help to mold NHL players as well.
Stay tuned for further details, and more information on how you can be a part of this premiere international event.
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