NANAIMO — The Nanaimo Ball Hockey League has made strides in year two.
First debuting in 2022, the goal was to bring community together, promote the sport and provide friendly competition post-pandemic.
Organizer Bruce Avender said the league is continually improving.
“For the most part it’s been a lot of fun and I’ve had a lot of good feedback from the players and the managers of the teams. It’s a growing sport and for the second year it’s been good.”
The NBHL added three teams in 2023 but Avender said a priority was bolstering the number of players on each team.
“We wanted players to fill teams so each team could have ten or more guys every game.”
There’s a wide age range with players from 17 years old to some in their early fifties.
Avender said the average age is between 21-35.
Most of the players are from Nanaimo with some coming from Parksville, Ladysmith and even Duncan.
The NBHL is into their playoffs at Frank Crane Arena and Nanaimo Ice Centre with the A Division semifinals June 27-28 and the final on Thursday, June 29.
In the B Division, the final matchup is already set between the Huskies and Monstars on Friday, June 23, with a possible second game if necessary.
Avender said the league is gaining more spectators as well which is adding to the playoff atmosphere.
“It’s been great. Most of the games have been close with lots of overtime and there haven’t been any blowouts”
A major selling point for the athletes has been the four provincial tournament slots for the NBHL.
The league has two berths in each division for the BC championships in Victoria July 7-9.
The Nanaimo teams will have a chance to compete against opponents from the Island, Vancouver, Kamloops and Kelowna.
Local players are starting to get recognition on a larger stage as well.
At the end of May, Kaden Wentzell and Zachary Cartier became the first ever players from the NBHL to make Team BC for the U19 Junior Nationals in New Brunswick in late July.
