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www.groovekorea.com / January 2014 88 Edited by Jenny Na (jenny@groovekorea.com) COMMUNITY sticKin’ with it Canadian Ball Hockey Korea builds a haven for camaraderie, on and off the feld E d Leahey and Kurt DeVries had just led their team to victory in the first annual Ya- mato Cup in Tokyo in 2008 when they decid- ed they wanted to keep the momentum go- ing: They would turn their regular ball hockey group into a formal league. The pair already had a dedicated group of players who would meet every Sunday to play pick-up games in a parking lot at Ajou Univer- sity in Suwon. But they wanted more. Scott Lumsdon, who captained the team during the tournament, recalls, “I believe our victory, coupled with an expanding member- ship base, spurred Kurt and Ed’s desire to create the league.” What they created is now Asia’s largest ball hockey organization: Canadian Ball Hockey Korea. One of the pivotal moments in the league’s history happened in 2006, back when the group was struggling to maintain its mem- bership. Leahey proposed playing at a more central location in the capital, leading them to the Jamsil Sports Complex, the place where they still play today. Games were held every Sunday, rain or shine, and the membership grew to a core group of 20 highly committed players. Upon returning to Korea after their victory at the Yamato Cup in October 2008, Lea- hey, DeVries and a few key members uti- lized their business and social connections to recruit more members. Within two weeks, through word of mouth and media exposure, the league was born. DeVries had also man- aged to secure the league’s first sponsor, Big Rock Brewery. Later that month, the CBHK’s first season began with 55 members and four teams. Besides the initial challenge of recruiting members, funding was a major issue. In ad- dition to the rink fees that Leahey paid out of his own pocket, finding and purchasing goalie gear was also another obstacle. “Communal goalie gear had to be scrounged, balls had to be purchased and shipped from Canada,” says Robert Gibson, a current CBHK board member. “Sticks at Ko- rean hockey shops were either outrageously expensive or cheap twigs that broke easily.” Since then, the CBHK has grown into an organization of 10 teams and 10 bar spon- sors, a tattoo studio sponsor and a magazine sponsor (Groove Korea), with a membership of 140 players. The league has several volunteers who or- ganize special events such as pub crawls, par- ties and tournaments. Volunteers also create league rules, book rink time, track statistics, referee and goal judge, and maintain the web- site and a weekly n ewsletter. “Getting volunteers to help out with the day- to-day running of the league was difficult at first, but now I’m proud of the ways that so many people have stepped up over the years to help out in some way to ensure the league functions properly,” says Cory Pettit, one of the league’s first captains. The league is open to individuals from all walks of life, both men and women, and the players are of various ages and abilities. They play two seasons, spring and fall, have two tournaments a year in Korea and have gone overseas for tournaments seven times in the last six years. The league’s 12th season kicks off on March 2. New members are encouraged to register between Jan. 16 and March 1. The draft party, one highlight of the season where captains select their new team members is set for March 1. “Games last for two hours,” Lumsdon says, “but more often than not, players and fans stay all day to enjoy the camaraderie and the spectacle. The goals and the saves are thrill- ing, but the banter among the players and fans alike is equally entertaining. It is simply a fun place to be on a Sunday.” Story by Rajnesh Sharma Photos by Rajnesh Sharma and Andrei Cherwinski