Ontario Ball Hockey Federation (OBHF) Growing Strong in 2015

Oakville, April 12, 2015- The Ontario Ball Hockey Federation (OBHF) is pleased to announce the signing of the following leagues as new OBHF members for the 2015 Spring/Summer Season:
 
MINOR'S
BARRIE MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
BRADFORD MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
HAMILTON MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
INNISFIL MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
MARKHAM MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
MISSISSAUGA MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
NEW TECUMSETH BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
ORANGEVILLE MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
PICKERING MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
RICHMOND HILL MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
SARNIA MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
SHELBURNE MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
THORNHILL MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
DOWNSVIEW MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
ETOBICOKE MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
WITHROW PARK BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE - YOUTH DIVISION
VAUGHAN MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
 
WOMEN'S
NEW TECUMSETH BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
SCARBOROUOGH WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
DOWNSVIEW PARK WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
YORK CENTRAL CO-ED BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE


MEN'S
AURORA BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
BRAMPTON BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
CENTRAL BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
DURHAM BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
ETOBICOKE BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
INNISFIL BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
MARKHAM BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
MISSISSAUGA BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
NEW TECUMSETH BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
NORTH CENTRAL BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
OSHAWA MEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
PEEL REGIONAL BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
PICKERING MEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
RICHMOND HILL BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
SARNIA BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
DOWNSVIEW PARK BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
GREATER TORONTO TIER 2 LEAGUE
PREMIER BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
NORTHWEST TORONTO BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
SCARBOROUGH BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
TORONTO BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
VAUGHAN BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
WHITBY MEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
YORK CENTRAL BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
YORK CENTRAL CO-ED BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
 
These new leagues join the following existing leagues that have been proud members of the OBHF, CBHA and ISBHF:
 
MINOR'S
BRAMPTON DISTRICT MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
BURLINGTON DISTRICT MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
CALEDON BLUEPRINT MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
HALTON HILLS MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
GUELPH MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
MILTON MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
MISSISSAUGA DISTRICT MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
OAKVILLE MINOR BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
TORONTO EMERY VILLAGE BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
 
WOMEN'S
BRADFORD WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
BROCKVILLE WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
KINGSTON WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
WITHROW PARK BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE MASTER'S WOMEN'S DIVISION
GREATER TORONTO WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
OTTAWA VANIER WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
 
MEN'S
ACTON MEN'S BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
MILTON PLAYERS BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
OAKVILLE PLAYERS BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
ONTARIO BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE
OTTAWA BLUES BALL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
ST. CATHARINES BALLHOCKEY.COM NIAGARA
WITHROW PARK BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE - MASTERS MEN'S DIVISION


This brings the OBHF membership numbers to 10,000 men, 10,500 minors, 1,500 women for a total of 21,500 members and counting for 2015.
 
The OBHF is very pleased to see such growth in 2015, says OBHF President, Jim Chapman. Ball hockey is a great summer sport and interest has been increasing year after year.  The new leagues coming on board will make for very competitive provincial events and allow us to build strong Ontario teams that will compete regionally, nationally and internationally.  We are excited to offer Ontario players these opportunities.
 
In addition to these new leagues, thanks to a two-year Ontario Trillium Foundation grant the OBHF will be developing 20 new centres by 2016.  A major focus is development in northern Ontario and smaller centers throughout the province to create a strong, representative provincial association.
 
Lino Chioma, OBHF VP Mens, remembers when he played against teams from Sudbury, Hearst and Windsor.  Provincials was so competitive and qualifying for nationals and regionals was very tough. As the OBHF continues to grow I am looking forward to seeing these new centres come on board and get ball hockey back to the level it was 20 years ago.
 
The 2015 season will see the OBHF hosting Nationals (Mens and Womens) in Ottawa and the first ever National Masters Championships.  OBHF players will also have the opportunity to attend Junior Nationals in St. John’s, NF and with this being a scouting year top players will be competing for Junior Team Canada spots in the U16, U18 and U20 divisions with the 2016 Junior Worlds hosted next year in Sheffield, England.  Mens B, C, D and Womens B players will be competing in Eastern Regionals, hosted in St. John’s, NF. Internationally, top Ontario players will be competing against the best in the world as part of Mens and Womens Team Canada in Zug, Switzerland June 19-28, 2015.
 
The Canadian Ball Hockey Association is very excited to see the OBHF growing so much in 2015, says CBHA President Shelley Callaghan. Our Ontario member association has a strong vision for building the sport from grassroots to top tiers.  It will be great to see so many high quality Ontario teams and players at CBHA events this year.
 
For more information on building a ball hockey program in your community please contact the Ontario Ball Hockey Federation at:  lino@ontarioballhockeyfederation.ca
 
The Ontario Ball Hockey Federation (OBHF) is a proud member of the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA), International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) and Hockey Canada.