When word came from town council that the Creighton Sportex would not house ice in the 2014-15 season, it got one avid hockey player thinking.
After attending council meetings and learning that the Sportex needed to be used more, Ryan Shuya decided to create a summertime ball hockey league.
Ice was removed in March from this 2013-14 hockey and skating season and Shuya and the rest of the ball hockey teams took full advantage of the open space.
Eight teams of roughly 10 started playing in May under the dome of the Sportex.
Teams carried through for two months before hosting their wrap up tournament last weekend.
Eight teams registered but a forfeit on Saturday left the tournament with seven.
Games got underway with play continuing for 45 minutes or the first team to seven goals – whichever came first.
All of the games in the round-robin play ended short of the 45 minute mark as the winning teams scored seven goals.
Playoffs began and the A side final and con-solation final were the two lone games to be played for 45 minutes.
Shuya, organizer of the event, says teams played hard on Saturday and good games were had.
The finals saw Cougar Bait defeat Multiple Scoregasms 6-5 in the A side while it came down to an 11-person shootout for the consolation final.
The Nordiques took down the Heart Attacks.
“I thought it went as good as it could have gone,” said Shuya, who says not only the tournament but the league itself was put together quickly.
The league was assembled following word from Creighton council of next year’s intent.
For next year’s ball hockey season, Shuya hopes to see it get started sooner and finish quicker than July.
“We would have liked to finish earlier but with the Trout Festival and Country Fest [this
past weekend worked best],” he said.
“And then we can get out of there before it gets too hot.”
