June 13, 2013 -The 2013 World Ball Hockey Federation Championships wrapped up on Sunday at the historic Maple Leaf Gardens as Canada captured double gold on home soil in both divisions of play, Women’s with a 5-2 victory over the Netherlands and Men’s a 7-1 win over team Team USA.

The Women’s bronze was won by Team USA in double overtime over Great Britain and the men’s Great Britain team would win the bronze with a 5-2 victory over Portugal.
In the 48 games played throughout the seven days and the players, staffs and friends and families in attendance had a wonderful time watching in the historic Maple Leaf Gardens. The atmosphere of being in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the world and in the downtown core allowed many to visit the wonderful sites of the city which included the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame as the community welcomed all the athletes to this world class city.

What a week it was with so many stories:

• the East Africa women’s teams scoring in the final game versus Team Slovakia with under 5 seconds to play
• the Slovakian and East Africa women’s teams gathered for a team picture at the conclusion of their game
• the Slovakian and Pakistan men’s teams gathering for a team picture and at the conclusion of their game
• Team USA women’s teams winning their first medal at an international competition
• Canada’s double gold on home soil in front of family and friends

The Host Committee in conjunction with the Ontario Ball Hockey Association and the National Ball Hockey Association of Canada would like to thank the World Ball Hockey Federation as well as its member countries for providing a first class event for the fans. Players enjoyed themselves around town, whether it was a day trip to Centre Island, the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Niagara Falls, Little Italy, Little Portugal or eating a meal at one of our fine local establishments along Queen Street. We would also like to thank NGR for hosting three nights at various nightclubs in Toronto for the teams. Who can forget the trips to Loblaws located in Maple Leaf Gardens as teams still continue to rave about the options of food provided and the ease to purchase groceries for the week.

Throughout the week and especially within the businesses within ten minutes of the downtown core the many stores commented on the amount of business they received from the tournament and this is yet another example of the benefits of hosting international events.

Our high definition online streaming of the games through Jenmark was indeed the highlight for many around the world and we are still receiving the positive comments for the coverage. The web site was updated immediately with the wonderful collection of staff on site which worked with all the teams throughout the week long proceedings.

The play by play tandem of Anthony Regan and Daniel Ranalli that helped bring the games into everyone’s homes and share the stories of the tournament.

Lastly, to the entire staff, game officials, teams, friends and family who made this the event, ‘Where The World United’, we thank you all.

If you wish to relive the games, they are available at www.hokejovedresystore.com

The 2014 World Junior Ball Hockey Championship will take place in Europe, June 22-29 with a formal announcement of the host city by June 30 of this year.

The 2014 Master’s World Ball Hockey Championships in two divisions O31 and O40 will be hosted in Bratislava, Slovakia bext fall.

The 2015 World Ball Hockey Championships will be hosted in Europe in June and host city to be announced in November.

Media Contacts:

Daniel Ranalli Host Committee Chair This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Steve Rumsey President, National Ball Hockey Association of Canada This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Domeic Di Gironimo World Ball Hockey Federation This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bruce Huff (Toronto Star Columnist) aptly described 'Our Game' with reverence and clarity. He said, "Ball hockey. On the street, in the gym, on the arena floors is simply a slice of Canadiana..."

Well, Canada...let us invite the world to come and play 'Our Game' in the home of one of the oldest and most prestigious buildings in National Hockey League history.

Maple Leaf Gardens

....although, before we look any further forward towards this monumental event, let us take a moment and go back in time.....

It is May 2, 1967.....

"...Three seconds...two...one...the game is over! The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup!" (Bill Hewett: CBC Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster)

Bill Hewitt in the broadcast booth

The Toronto Maple Leafs (owned and operated by Stafford Smythe, John Bassett and the infamous Harold Ballard) under the tutalege of Mssr. George 'Punch' Imlach, are playing against Les Canadiens, the most reverred franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at Maple Leaf Gardens . The 'Boys in Blue' are up three games to two in the championship series and lead 2-1 late in the third period of the contest when the epilogue to this epic chapter in hockey history would be finally written and later chronicled for years to come.

The net is empty...and you can still hear Bill Hewitt's voice resonate like it was only yesterday calling the play-by-play with less than a minute to go in the game...

"...Its electrifying here at Maple Leaf Gardens at the moment...

Here we go for the face-off...
The Leafs have (Allan) Stanley, (Red) Kelly, (Bob) Pulford, (Tim) Horton and (George) Armstrong...
Stanley talks to Kelly...
The puck is dropped. Kelly up to Pulford...Pulford gets it up to Armstrong...
Armstrong waits...takes a shot...he scores!

Johnny Bower making a save in the 1967 Stanley Cup finals versus the Canadiens

Brian McFarlane (CBC Colour Commentator), along side Mr. Hewitt in the 'Gondola' high above the Garden's ice, can barely contain his excitement as he goes on to describe the events and euphoria on the ice and in the stands...

"...a wild finish...the players jump on the ice!...there are 47 seconds left to play...3-1 Toronto...Armstrong, the Leafs captain, gets a goal in the empty net...everybody is up and standing and cheering...all the Leaf fans here at the Gardens...programs are on the ice...players swarmed over the boards..."

"It would appear to be the insurance goal the Leafs were looking for...still 47 seconds left to play, but it would appear to be the goal the Leafs needed to win the Stanley Cup!"

And with that, the fans began the final countdown...10!...9!...8!...and completed by Hewitt's heightened tone for the viewers at home...

"...Three seconds...two...one...the game is over! The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup!"

McFarlane continued to describe the event with child like enthusiam....

"....What a tremendous hockey game this was...Fantastic!

...Look at the Leafs mobTerry Sawchuk...Johnny Bower is one of the first over the boards...number 27 Frank Mahovolich...and there is George Armstrong who scored the insurance goal...and Mike Walton...Bobby Baun...and Eddy Shack...Punch Imlach is out there shaking hands with his players..."

"...Peter Stemkowski throws Imlach's hat high into the air!"

The Canadians are lined up for the ceremonial hand shake and Toe Blake comes over to congratulate Punch Imlach.

"...(Red) Kelly and (Tim) Horton embrace each other..."

As the celebration continued and as history would have it, John Ferguson and Jean Beliveau would be the last to leave the ice (for the Canadians) as the Leafs remained poised to claim their prize...and with that, NHL President Clarence Campbell would be introduced to make the presentation of the Stanley Cup to captain George Armstrong at center ice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my great pleasure, duty and responsibility to present the Stanley Cup to the Maple Leaf Hockey Club for the 11th time"

Captain George Armstrong ushered his son Brian up with him to accept the Stanley Cup to help him raise it above his head in victory.

As the championship bubbly was being poured into Lord Stanley's Mug, Hockey Night in Canada host Ward Cornell spoke with Maple Leaf defenseman Tim Horton about the magnitude of the team's accomplishment and what it meant to the allstar defenseman...

"...Its pretty hard not to get emotionally involved when you're in the Stanley Cup...its the ultimate for a hockey player...what you live for...it was the happiest moment when Army scored that third goal...I wanted to start crying..."

Since that moment in time there has been nary a replica of a trophy with such reverance or significance in sports history, nor a cup sought after by so many, but raised in triumph by so few, in that very place where the fans were loud and "The Chief" stood proud, underneath the scoreboard at center ice in the Maple Leaf Gardens....

Until now.....

WHERE THE WORLD UNITES for the World Ball Hockey Championships in June 2013 at the heritage site known as the Mattamy Athletic Center at The Gardens on 60 Carleton St. Toronto Canada.

The event approaches with an air of breathless anticipation and an unprecedented level of energy and enthusiam from everyone involved as the best mens and womens nations in the sport of ball hockey plan, prepare and pack their bags to travel from various continental divides to play on the world's largest stage for the game's biggest prize.

It will be the first time since 1967 that a major championship trophy of global magnitude and importance will be presented in what some would equate to as the middle of the living room floor in the house that Conn Smythe built.

On Sunday June 9....one nation will stand alone and accept the 2013 World Championship trophy emblematic of global 'orange ball' supremacy in the middle of the floor where George 'The Chief' Armstrong stood and raised La Coupe Stanley.

It will undoubtedley be an event for the ages and one that will be remembered for generations to come... Hence, as former wrestler, promoter and ringside announcer Billy 'Red' Lyons (Maple Leaf Wrestling) would say....

"Don't you dare miss it!"

For information on the championships or ticket information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. '; document.write(''); document.write(addy_text43097); document.write('<\/a>'); //-->\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.