Local Boys Off to World Ball Hockey Championships

LOCAL BOYS OFF TO WORLD BALL HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Canada Ball Hockey will be sending 3 teams to the 2014 World Junior Ball Hockey Championships, slated for Bratislava, Slovakia. The 3 teams will represent our country at the World Championships … we will send one team in each of the levels … Under-20, Under-18, and Under-16. The announced teams will include a huge Edmonton contingent, as 15 local players will make the trip to Europe. In addition to the 15 players, there will also be 4 administrative personnel who have been selected by Canada Ball Hockey.

Norm Spitzer was selected as General Manager of the Under-16 team. Norm has been involved in ball hockey for many years, putting together high-calibre teams who played in our Edmonton league. The “Xtreme” ball hockey program has produced many great teams and strong players over the years, and Norm has been a big part of that. Norm also has been a Western scout for Team Canada Jr. program for the last 4 years. One of the graduates of our Edmonton Minor program is Tyrel Spitzer, who has been selected as the Team Canada Under-18 head coach. Besides being a coach for 2 Xtreme teams registered in our local league, Tyrel is also a very good player on a local Tier One men’s team. He will lead the Under-18 team, which will include 4 Edmonton boys. The head coach for the Under-20 National team is Ian Poulson, another local former player, who once suited up for Canada at the Men’s World Ball Hockey Championships. This is his third time with the Jr. National program. Also part of the Under-18 team is Bob Pattison, who will be the team Equipment Manager. Bob has taken care of all 3 Edmonton Xtreme teams for many years. The well-liked equipment man has been with the Xtreme to many Westerns and Canadian Junior Championships.

Congrats to our 15 local boys who will wear the Maple Leaf next summer … we are proud that you have been selected to participate. Here is a list of Edmonton players who will play for Team Canada:

TEAM CANADA – Under 20 / TEAM CANADA – Under 18 / TEAM CANADA – Under 16
-  Caleb Belter
-  Chase Aldridge
-  Jeff Brown
-  Cody Lunnin
-  Nathan Park
-  Tyler Palmer
-  Graydon Woodman
Head Coach … Ian Poulson / -  Brett Pollock
-  Michael Zipp
-  Chris McKay
-  Kyle Pacholok
Head Coach … Tyrel Spitzer
Equipment Mgr … Bob Pattison / -  Ryan Porter
-  Jack Donald
-  Brendan Stewart
-  Matt Berlin
General Manager … Norm Spitzer