I was out Saturday June 6th looking for sporting news in Sooke. I had just missed the Blue Devils match at EMCS, note their games usually start at 11am and they have one this coming Saturday, the 13th, at EMCS. Nothing happening at Fred Milne Park so I went up to the “Sooke Sports Box” in Sunriver off of Phillips Road. I found the Vancouver Island Ball Hockey League (VIBHL) in full swing, not a lot of spectators but teams waiting for their turn in the box. In the box when I arrived were the women, Renegades vs Fire Angels, from the Victoria Women’s division. Waiting their turn were the Vancouver Island Spartans from the Victoria Men’s Div 6, their opponents were the Vancouver Island Bandits. I didn’t stay around for the full match but due to the excellent league website I see the Spartans lost 8-0 to the Bandits and the Renegades and Fire Angels tied at 2-2.
It looks like the Sooke Sports Box was booked for both Saturday and Sunday and the league played 10 games covering Divisions 4, 5, 6 and the Women’s Division. The schedule shows the league runs from April to July, most of the games are held in Langford at Eagle Ridge, with some games at Naden Arena in Esquimalt and Pearkes Arena off of Tillicum. This weekend seemed to be the only matches in Sooke.
The Spartans team were easy to spot
A few spectators taking in the women’s game Renegades v Fire Angels
Helmets and gloves look mandatory, shin guards optional
The Box is fully enclosed and great for ball hockey, not so great for photography through the fencing
The goalies are fully suited up, the game ended in a 2-2 draw
Taking photos through the fence isn’t ideal but here’s a goalie level view
The Coastal Ball Hockey group had a display, they seem to be the parent organization and Vancouver based
After the game there were Player of the Game awards, photos with the refs, and likely the league organizer
The Spartans getting ready for battle, at the time they didn’t realize they were walking into an 8-0 shellacking.