The Provincial Senior Broomball Championships are being held this weekend in Cobourg.
The action starts at 7 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025 and continues through the weekend in Cobourg, Baltimore and Bewdley.
The host team for the Provincial Championships hails from Grafton and is called Rough Edge.
Rough Edge was formed in 2014 and in 2022 was reborn with a fresh determination with a clear vision of winning.
That same year, Rough Edge won the Provincial Championship.
Sean Kelly is on the host team and is part of the organizing committee.
Kelly says Rough Edge plays amongst a league of six teams spread throughout the area.
But the love of the sport has a person driving from Syracuse, New York to play on the team every week.
There are five different divisions for the weekend championships with three local teams taking part.
Both ice rinks will be used at the Cobourg Community Centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday along with rinks in Baltimore and Bewdley also being used.
A total of 48-teams with upwards of 1,000 people are taking part across the province ranging from elite men’s, masters men’s and women’s, intermediate women’s, and co-ed.
“If you’ve never heard of broomball it’s a good chance to pop over and see what it’s like,” said Kelly.
“There is a lot of similarities to hockey and it’s a fun sport.”
The sport is played on ice, using specialized shoes.
“They’ve got traction on the bottom which sticks to the ice, but you’re still able to slide.”
The stick is similar to a lacrosse still but it has a triangular paddle on the bottom. A orange ball is also used.
In the elite men’s there is checking with “heavy hits” being apart of the game.
“But everyone has to work, so no one is getting crushed through the boards.”
Elbow pads, shin pads and a helmet are the main equipment used.
When Kelly started playing six years ago, he didn’t know much about the sport, but said it’s a great way to meet people and very competitive.
“It’s going to be a busy weekend and worth coming to check out.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
