Hockey Canada Skills Academy Introduces Floorball Into Off-Ice Training Program

4/18/2010

From coast-to-coast, the sport of floorball is being introduced into the Hockey Canada Skills Academy curriculum as a means to promote better physical conditioning and improved stickhandling ability among Canada’s next generation of hockey players.

Hockey Canada instructors were attracted to floorball because the sport requires the same core skills as hockey, namely quickness and agility as it relates to stickhandling and shooting. It was also decided that the fast-paced nature of the sport would add more fun into the program for the kids.

“Floorball has grown exponentially within our Hockey Canada Skills Academy programs across Canada,” says Kevin Bathurst, Manager, Hockey Canada Regional Centre -West. “There’s a lot of end-to-end running in the game, which really helps to promote physical conditioning. The rules of the game also place a strong emphasis on stickhandling and we’re already seeing how that’s helping kids out on the ice.”

Hockey experts from around the world agree on the importance of off-ice training. Juha Mikkola, known as Mr. Floorball in Canada, points out that some of the NHL’s best European talent play floorball to this day as a part of their off-season training regimen.

“Players like Marian Gaborik, Henrik Lundqvist, Sundin, Naslund, Forsberg, Demitra and the Hossa brothers all grew up playing floorball in school,” explains Mikkola. “We’re getting there in Canada with over 200 hundred secondary and primary schools now playing floorball. Our sport is increasing in popularity because it’s fun, safe and a low cost for anyone to play. Hockey coaches and teachers need to know just how quick and easy it is for them to get started with the game.”

FAST FACTS ABOUT FLOORBALL

• Floorball is played by millions of people in over 50 countries around the world.
• Borje Salming, a former Toronto Maple Leaf great and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, is one of the world’s largest manufacturer of floorball equipment and accessories.
• The world record for the fastest floorball shot is an astounding 191 km/h.
• Floorball is a provisional member of the International Olympic Committee [IOC]. The International Floorball Federation hopes floorball will be a part of the Summer Olympics by 2020.
• The 7th Annual Canada Cup of Floorball will take place, May 21-23 at York University with over 50 teams competing from the U.S., Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic and Canada.

In addition to the Hockey Canada Skills Academy, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey School are also involved with the sport. According to Anthony Herrington, who runs the Hockey Canada Skills Academy at Sherwood Secondary in Hamilton, elite hockey players from across the country are playing floorball to improve upon their hockey skills.

“It’s just a great game to help kids hone their hockey skills,” explains Herrington, who also works as a scout for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. “Floorball helps with all aspects of hockey because the sports are so similar, especially when it comes to stickhandling and shooting. Floorball is all about fitness and fun.”

The Hockey Canada Skills Academy aims to promote cooperative efforts between school boards, local hockey associations and sponsors, to better utilize ice times and school facilities and move towards the development of sport schools. The goal is to enhance a student-player’s confidence, individual playing skills, self-esteem and opportunities in both academics and athletics beyond the primary and secondary school system.