Lucas Punkari
For someone like Doug White, there are a number of reasons why he’s been playing broomball in Fort Frances for more than 30 years.
“It’s a lot of fun to play and I really enjoy the workout,” he noted.
“Playing broomball really helps you out with your cardio as you can’t coast around on your [skates] like you do in hockey because you are basically running around on the ice.
“It’s also a very good social sport as you can come out and meet people, and have a few pops afterwards,” he added.
The Fort Frances mixed broomball league, however, currently is looking for more players to keep their Friday night contests going in the wake of declining membership over the years.
“We’re just trying to keep things going,” echoed Kristen Busch before last Friday’s game at the ’52 Canadians Arena, which saw just eight players taking part.
A regular game of broomball is very similar to hockey, with five players and a goalie on each team. Many of the tactics and rules also are identical to Canada’s favourite game.
The most noticeable differences are the fact players wear special footwear to move around on the ice, and “brooms” are used to a shoot a ball towards the net.
“Years ago, it used to be an actual broom that we used,” White recalled.
“Now, though, we have a rubberized end that we use, and it is shaped like the old corn broom.”
“The broomball shoes that we use are pretty similar to what a curler wears when they are sweeping a rock,” Busch added.
“They have a spongy sole at the bottom so that you can grip the ice as you move around, and it’s also not as slippery out there when you wear them,” she noted.
While those interested in taking part may be thrown off by the special gear that’s required, Busch pointed out the league provides all equipment for any newcomers who want to try the game, in addition to a helmet, elbow pads, and shoulder pads.
“We’ll loan them the equipment if they want to come out and try it,” she explained.
“If they find that they enjoy playing the sport, we can help them in finding where to get the gear afterwards so that they can continue to play with us.”
Anyone interested in giving broomball a try during the next league game, slated for Friday, Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. at the ’52 Canadians Arena, can contact Busch at 274-0630.
