By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer
Are you a hockey or curling fan who’s looking for a new sport? Maybe you’re a fan of neither but open to hurling a ball down the ice with a paddle-shaped broomstick to give yourself a workout and partake in the comradery at the same time. Broomball is of particular interest for those who want to be on the ice but can’t skate, and want a bit more action than curling.
Broomball is a Canadian sport that’s a cross between hockey and curling, with players using a broom-like stick. Invented around the early 20th century, it’s since been played in the US and elsewhere internationally. The sport is played on a standard ice rink — the same that’s used for hockey — with many of the same rules. These include offside regulations, having three periods per game plus overtime, and penalties for high-sticking, cross-checking, slashing, and too many players on the ice. Broomball is a team sport in which six athletes take to the ice at a time including one goalie, two forwards, two defence, and one centre.
The broomstick, like a curling brush and a hockey stick combined, is shaped like an angled, plastic paddle. Traditionally, the stick was a literal corn broom with bristles. The game is played with a hard rubber ball — a broomball, as the name states — and goal nets that differ from the shape and size of a hockey net.
Players wear helmets similar to hockey headgear, team jerseys, and padded, spongy shoes similar to those used in curling. Broomball can be played both recreationally and competitively, and has both gender-specific and co-ed teams.
The invention of broomball is thought to have been loosely influenced by vikings thousands of years ago. Today, the modern game of broomball is more subdued, and players often partake in it for leisure — although the competitive leagues are nothing to mess with. To make things even more interesting, broomball can be played indoors or outdoors on ice, or even on a field.
Broomball is preferably played on looser ice in a rink, yet sometimes it’s even played outside in the snow. Who needs a zamboni when you have a broom to do the work of sweeping up all the loose ice for you? Although broomball might seem like an obscure, and arguably, unconventional sport, it’s gained popularity in recreational and competitive leagues through to the modern 21st century. Soon enough you’ll be brushing your broomstick and reeling the broomball hard down the ice and into the net.
What are you waiting for? Grab your witch stick and let the broomball games begin! Bonus points if you dress in your best witchy wardrobe, channel your sporty spell-binding powers on ice, and concoct a cauldron of post-game glory to warm your chilled bones. May the best broom win!
Check out the Greater Vancouver Broomball Association for more information on where to play near you.
