OUR GRANDRAVINE FAMILY IS ALWAYS READY TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!

By Pirjo Roininen

It started as a simple invitation announced by Mike Liotta at our year end banquet.  The Ontario Ball Hockey Federation would like to see a team of players with special needs at their Provincials Championships, to be held in Mississauga this summer.

Who wants to play?

The first to volunteer was Niki Eren and when his dad, Suavi, told Mike, he found himself volunteered as coach of the Ball Hockey team.  Before long, Suavi had a lineup of players at his table signing up for ball hockey, thus starting his coaching career.

Several emails were exchanged between various individuals and the new team was almost ready to play.   An invitation came from Caroline Alphonso, director of the Withrow Park Ball Hockey League, to join them on June 7 at the Ted Reeve Bubble for a practice and a game.  Are we ready to play? Yes!!!

Six Grandravine players were able to come.  Despite the warm spring weather, they all chose to proudly wear their Grandravine jerseys, thus identifying them as a team to be reckoned with.  Our players were happy to recognize rival players from the Donaldson Diamonds SHI team, providing a friendly start for the day.

They had never played ball hockey together but all of the ice hockey coaching showed!  Kudos to our Grandravine coaches – you have taught them well!  These guys played as a team, requiring no coaching from Suavi.  They even scored the first goal of the game at their first ever ball hockey game!  It was an exciting game with lots of action and great teamwork by all of the players.

Tired and happy, but sweaty, they all agreed that t-shirts might be a better choice next time.  Everyone, including parents, had an awesome time. We look forward to continuing to develop this ball hockey team, provided there is interest from the players.

Thank you Joseph, Nik, Mark, Alex, Jonathan and Carmine!

Our ball hockey team is not organized by the Grandravine Tornadoes or by SHI although this team is for players with developmental challenges.  We are a new team and learning how it all works but you can still sign up for the OBHF Provincial Championships – All Abilities Tournament being held July 11 & 12 in Mississauga.  Maybe we can even come up with our own name by then.

Please contact Suavi Eren at Suavi.eren.1@gmail.com for details.