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Greece representative elected on the ISBHF Board of Directors
The HBHA would like to congratulate Mr. John Kontitsis (left) for his appointment as a member of the ISBHF board of directors.
John will work closely with George Gortsos (right), who is the newly appointed ISBHF president, as we prepare for the 2013 World Championships that will take place in St-John’s Newfoundland between June 1st and June 10th. The conference was recently held in Paris, France on June 20-21st, 2012.
*UPDATE* TEAM GREECE 2012 CAMP - **March 3rd**
Team Greece is holding a tryout camp in Montreal on Saturday, March 3rd from 8:30am - 10:30am. If anyone is interested to tryout please call George Vouloumanos (t: 514.924.6448).
A final Camp will then be held at a later date this year to determine the final roster of the next World Championships taking place June 2013 in St.Johns’ Newfoundland, Canada. The exact date and location to be confirmed.
“We have to choose the best date in order to get everyone we want to come out, and the location will most likely be a central spot, nothing has been determined yet. The format this year will be a little different as there will only be 1 camp, and this will be via invitation only. I think after 2 world championships under our association and over 6 camps we know what we are looking for and what kind of players will fit into the team we are trying to create. At this point in time we are playing at the best caliber possible against the best players in the world. Therefore we require specific players that will make this team better” says VP John Kontitsis
In the meantime the HBHA encourage all players who are interested and believe they can help this team to contact one of the representatives immediately. In doing so they can evaluate every individual and extend invitations to them. We look forward to having the best Greek Talent come to this camp.
See you all soon,
Senior Vice President HBHA
John Kontitsis
Team Greece game by game recap
Game # 1: Greece Vs USA
Team Greece has a terrific first game with a 6-2 win over the USA. This is Greece’s first time in the A pool.
The USA finished 4th at the 2009 worlds. It was a good first step and crucial towards trying to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Only top 3 of the 5 teams from each division will advance. "We played a great overall game. We stuck to our game plan and executed very well" coach John Kontitsis. Team Greece's next game is Monday at 6pm vs. the host nation and tournament favorites Slovakia.
Watch game at: http://sport.huste.tv/hokejbal/zaznam/19-06-11-usa-grecko.html
~~~~~~~~~~
Game # 2: Greece Vs Slovakia
Team Greece loses 4-0. The game was filled with penalties. Team Greece had 17 penalties called against them and Team Slovakia 9. All 4 of their goals were on the power play. The game was actually pretty even 5 on 5. "The team has to stay focused and disciplined.
I feel many against us were soft, but our players got frustrated and stop playing our game. They are a good team but we definitely were able to compete 5 on 5. You can’t afford to get so many penalties against top teams like this.
We have to look forward to the next match vs. the Swiss."
Watch full game at: http://sport.huste.tv/hokejbal/zaznam/20-06-11-slovensko-grecko.html
~~~~~~~~~~
Game # 3: Greece Vs Switzerland
Team Greece has a great bounce back game vs. the Swiss. They came out strong and pressed early and often. Greece had several power plays thanks to strong cycling down low. Despite this they couldn't score until the middle of the 2nd period. Tasso Bozinakis scored and the Team started dominating the game.
A 2nd goal by Tasso put the game away. Swiss power play with 2 minutes to go tested goalie John Vrettis, but he turned away all shots for the shutout.
"We played a good game, we should have scored more goals but we looked a little nervous, and legs were a little tired. But I was very happy with the game overall, we are very strong defensively" Coach Kontitsis. Next and final game of the round robin is Thursday vs. Austria. (The team Greece beat in the B pool final in the 2009 WC to win the Gold).
Watch full game at : Game not available
~~~~~~~~~~
Game # 4: Greece Vs Austria
The rematch of the 2009 B pool gold medal game was not even close. Greece outshot them 54-10 and the game ended 7-1. If not for a good game by the Austrian goalkeeper it would have been worse. “We played a solid game, worked on some fundamentals and rested some of our guys in the 3rd. Now we move on to the Quarterfinals".
The team will have huge test vs. the defending champions the Checks. “We wanted to finish 2nd in our pool after the round robin and we achieved or goal. We were hoping to avoid playing the Czechs or Canada at least until the Semi Finals. We got a little unlucky with the draw after Portugal beat the Czechs in the last round robin game. But surprises happen in tournaments like this all the time. Greece has yet to allow an even strength goal in 4 games.
Watch full game at : http://sport.huste.tv/hokejbal/zaznam/23-06-11-grecko-rakusko.html
~~~~~~~~~~
QuarterFinal: Greece Vs Czech Republic
The surprise match up was made after the defending champions Czech Republic lost to Portugal in their last round robin game and finished 3rd. The game was quick and intense. Greece scored first on a pp and took the lead into the intermission. They had multiple chances to score again and try to take a 2-0 lead. The Czechs came back after Greece just missed another scoring chance, and tied it 1-1.
After yet another Greek missed opportunity the Czechs scored again on a lucky goal with the ball standing in the crease. This was the first even goal allowed by Greece so far in the tournament.
Two minutes later they scored again on a weak goal from the side. Goalie John Vrettis wasn't expecting the shot and it just dipped on him. Another penalty put the Czechs on the power play and they scored again. The score was 4-1 after 2 periods. Another power play goal in the 3rd made it 5-1. Game over.
"Its a frustrating loss because we know we had ample chances to score and take a 2 goal lead. Kourousis, Joey barbas, Stojsin and Jimmy Nistas all had chances. When you get a 2 goal lead the game is different. They would have been forced to open up and it would have given us more chances to score. We know thatwe can compete with any of these teams 5 on 5. Penalties are killing us”. Coach Kontitsis
Greece now plays one last game vs. Portugal to decide who finishes 5th + 6th, a relatively meaningless game.
Watch Full game at :
~~~~~~~~~~
Game # 6 : Greece Vs Portugal
The last game was to basically see who finishes 5th or 6th. Greece loses 4-3 as once again penalties hurt them. Greece outshot Portugal 15-3 in the first period and 39-20 overall.
The score was 1-1 after the first period. “We dominated the first and I felt like we were just too quick for them 5 on 5. We should have been up at least 3-0 after the first. We have to learn to put teams away early when we get chances like these. That’s the difference with winning and losing. We allowed 4 power play goals as once again we didn’t stay disciplined.”
Watch Game at : http://sport.huste.tv/hokejbal/zaznam/26-06-11-o-5-miesto.html
Final preparations for Team Greece
With less than a month to go for the 2011 World Championships, the team is gearing up with final preparations. Almost 2 years have passed since the last worlds. After two tough evaluation camps and a final selection camp the team that will represent Greeece is ready. Andrew Moshonas of the HBHA sat down with General Manager John Kontitsis for an interview.
AM: The 2009 team won the Gold Medal in the B pool at the last worlds in 2009. How is this year team different?
JK: The last team was full of veterans and competed very hard to win our pool and propel Greece in to the A pool. Every team is different and its tough to compare, however this team is very different as only 9 of the 23 players are returnees; it’s a quicker, younger, and more skilled team”.
AM: You are now competing with 9 other nations in the A pool for the right to be crowned World Champions. Are you ready for that challenge, and what are your expectations?
JK: The coaches have prepared the team for a very tough tournament. This is the A pool, the competition is more fierce, the players we will be competing against are bigger, better , faster and the bottom line is they all want the Gold. There is no doubt that next to Canada, Slovakia and the Chech’s we are big underdogs, but we are not afraid of anyone, we are confident in our players and their abilities and we know they are eager to compete and show there stuff.
AM: The worlds take place every 2 years, how much work and preparation is needed to select a team and organize everything.
JK: It’s incredible how much work and fine detail goes into it. You must set up evaluation camps first. We held two, one in Montreal and another in Toronto. Over 120 players were invited. From there we selected 45 for the final camp and trimmed the team down to the final 22 man roster. That’s extremely tuff. Once your team is selected you have to book flights, order equipment (jerseys, bags, t-shirts, shorts etc), book your hotel, meals, transportation, and find an athletic therapist. These things take time and months of preparation.
AM: Wow, all this must be expensive. Do the players pay for all these costs?
JK: If that were the case every player would have to pay over $3000. It’s definitely worth it for the 10 day experience. Visiting a foreign nation, hanging out with your teammates and playing ball hockey, it’s amazing. However we all have different financial situations and therefore it is not easy for everyone to come up with this kind of money. We understand this and from the day the HBHA was committed to taking the best team to represent our nation and heritage. That’s why we never wanted to leave any player behind due to money. We have trimmed the cost down by a large amount, and we are able to do this by organizing events such as the dance at Table 51 in Montreal, or the dance in Toronto, as well as poker tournaments. This is just small portion.
AM: I see there are many who have helped the HBHA and you also have a list of sponsors. (sponsor section). How much do they mean to the HBHA?
JK: The major contributors are our sponsors; they make the big difference for us. Without them none of this is possible. We have some that sponsored us in 2009, some new ones for 2011 and some sponsored us both times. Most are Greek businesses and some are not. Regardless we have them on our website and have links to their sites as well. This is the least we can do. It’s our way of saying thank you. It is amazing how they have supported us. They are proud of what we are doing and happy to be a part of our success. We honestly cannot express our gratitude enough for their help.
AM: We see that the HBHA will also be sending a woman’s team to this year’s world championship. How is this possible?
JK: This is all possible because of Jimmy Malamas and his group of passionate hockey players in Thessaloniki. We have been working with Jimmy since day 1. He is part of our committee and the #1 priority of the HBHA is to raise awareness for this game back home in Greece. They have a men’s league of 4 teams and they introduced the game to woman as well. In just a matter of months he has assembled a team of over 20 girls. The HBHA helps in any way we can, we made the jerseys and shorts for them and also purchase the helmets and cages for the upcoming Championships. We also sent over 30 hockey sticks, balls and goalie gear for youth. We want to start after school programs in Greece. Jimmy and his group will definitely make this happen. We are very proud of our partnership.
AM: Will we be able to watch any of the games or track your results:
JK: Absolutely, I know that game # 2 vs. the hosts Slovakia will be televised on Euro Sport 2. And most of the games should be streaming via the official WC web site. All the results and stats will be posted there. http://bratislava2011.sportvin.sk/en/
AM: Any final words?
JK: A final thanks to the Greek Communities, the Greek Consulates in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, your help will never be forgotten. We are all passionate Greeks, and we will always represent our Nation, Culture and Heritage with pride, honor and class.
On a final note:
I personally want to thank all our staff and their families. We are all volunteers in this. Everyone has full time jobs and families and they sacrifice so much time to make all of this possible. Thank you for being patient and backing us all the way. When no one thought it possible, when no one believed we can do it, you stood by us.
We love you all and thank you again.
AM: Thank you John, Good luck, we will all be watching and cheering for you.
Team Greece Roster 2011
The 2011 edtion of Team Greece has been announced and the player bios can be viewed on the team page.
We are confident that they will proudly represent Greece in Slovakia for the 2011 World Ball Hockey championships this coming June.
Head Coach: Gus Kourousis
Assistant Coaches: Tim Acheson, Alkie Zisidis and John Kontitsis
Wish us luck!
Thank you,
Your Coach
The Annual Dinner & Dance in Toronto on May 6th, 2011
The Annual Dinner & Dance event is organised this year under the auspices of the Consul General of Greece in Toronto, the Honorable Dimitris Azemopoulos. The event will take place at Ellas Banquet Hall (35 Danforth Rd) on May 6th, 2011 at 19h00.
This event is organized to benefit the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association which is sending a team to represent Greece at the next World Street & Ball Hockey Championships in Slovakia this upcoming June (2011). The World Championships are held every two years and 16 teams representing their respective nations compete in the Championship.
In the last Championship (2009), Greece captured Gold in the B pool and we hope to continue this success in this year's Championships. Our goal is to represent Greece with honour and pride and with your support we expect to do so!
Ticket prices:
- $80 for adults
- $40 for children (12 and under)
For tickets please call Mr. Alkie Zisidis (416.835.3332) or e-mail: zisidis@hotmail.com
RSVP Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Hellenic Ball Hockey Team is officially supported by the Greek Consulate (http://www.hbha.gr/news_headlines.php#dec26)
Best Regards,
Alkie Zisidis.
Poker Tournament - March 25th, 2011 @ Carrefour Laval
The HBHA is organizing yet another Poker Tournament to help raise funds for the World Ball Hockey Championships coming up in June of this year.
The Poker Tournament will take place on Friday March 25th, 2011 at 9:30pm in Carrefour Laval mall (you enter from the food court entrance - next to Table51). It's a great event and we hope that you and all your friends will be there!
Real poker tables, dealers, snacks, prizes, drinks, etc. Each ticket costs $100 and rebuys are allowed for the 1st hour only.
For more details, please call:
Andrew Moshonas - 514.585.2695
John Kontitsis - 514.831.6604
We hope to see you there!
Team Greece honored for Men's 2009 World Championships Gold medal
On November 4th, 2010, more than 120 guests, mainly from our Youth, honored the victory and the Gold Medal won by the Hellenic Ball Hockey Team in the B- Pool of the 2009 World Ball Hockey Championships in Pilzen Check Republic. The reception was hosted by the Honorable Dimitris Azemopoulos at his Consular Residence.
The Hbha would like to take the opportunity on thanking Mr. Azempoulos for supporting our oranization and all that he has done for us, he is truly an incredible individual with a huge heart. We also like to thank his staff for their great work.
The Hbha looks forward to continuous support from the Greek Embassy on upcoming events. Once again thank you on behalf of the Hbha and it's players.
Sincerely yours,
Alkie Zisidis
Head coach Gus Kourousis inducted into the Hall of Fame
On behalf of the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association I would like to personally congratulate Mr Konstantinos Kourousis on the recent announcement that he will be inducted into the Canadian Ball Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
Gus as he is known to all of us has been involved with the game for a very long time and his list of accomplishments is a very long one.
To name just a few:
1. Gold Medal, World Champion and MVP of Team Canada in 1996 World Championships that took place in Bratislava Slovakia
2. Three time winner of Canadian National Championships
3. Gold Medal and MVP of Team Greece (B pool) in 2009 World Ball Hockey Championships, Plzen Check Republic
Gus is currently the Head Coach of Team Greece ball hockey team and we are very proud to have him aboard since the HBHA came into existence in 2008.
For those of us who know him well, those who recently met him and whoever still hasn’t.
Gus is a terrific hockey player and has a great hockey mind. If you spend a little time either playing with him or being part of his practices you will quickly be impressed with his knowledge of the game and attention to detail.
However the best thing about Gus is that he is genuinely a terrific person with a very good heart. The game of Ball Hockey introduces us to different people everyday and I am proud to have met Gus and be able to call him my friend.
Congratulations buddy, you deserve it.
A message from the coach, Gus Kourousis
I would like thank all the players who participated in the final selection camp this past weekend. We had a fantastic turnout with a mix of a lot of young talented kids and some veterans. The level of play was at a high level and allowed of you players to showcase your talents.
The process now begins for the coaching staff to select the best mix of 22 players to best represent the Greek team. I am very proud of the commitment all of you made to be part of this program. Once again thank you all and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Thank You,
Coach Gus Kourousis
Women's ball hockey in Greece!
The HBHA is proud to announce that it will be sending a Women's team to next
years world ball hockey championships , which will be held between June 19-26 of 2011 in Bratislava Slovakia.
"We are extremely happy to be working together with these women, their passion and dedication to the game is unparallel " says Vice President George Kosmas.
The General Manager of the team, Jimmy Malamas, who is also the current Vice-President of the HBHA, will organize an evalutation camp in Greece this October where they expect to see over 20 girls attend from the regions of Athens and Thessaloniki. The camp will allow the coaching staff to evaluate and select the players that will represent the team next summer.
Dimitris Tzagkas and Giotis Efkarpidis have been selected as coaches of the team.
"By working together we will be able to prepare the team both physically and mentally for the tough tournament that lies ahead. There is a lot of work to do, however they are dedicated to learn and develop their game as much as possible. We know that they will enjoy the experience very much, but we also want to elevate this team and the program to a higher level. Jimmy and his coaching staff have a tough task ahead but we are very confident in their abilities" says President John Kontitsis.
Tune in as we monitor their progress and provide more details in the upcoming months.
Labour Day Bash at Table 51! Join us for a drink..or two..or three!
The HBHA has organized an end of summer bash at Table 51 restaurant on Sunday September 5th 2010 (Labour Day weekend) begining at 7:30 p.m. until 3:00a.m.
There will be a guest Dj, music all night long, delicious drinks, terasse will be open and more.
Tickets are being sold in advance for $20, please call 514.831.6604 (ask for John).
See you there!
Table 51 location: Carrefour Laval, 3035, blvd le Carrefour, Laval, Quebec H7T 1C8
Players selected for the final camp
*** FINAL CAMP date & time***
The final camp will be a two day event held in Toronto, Ontario.
September 18th Saturday 4:00pm-9:00pm
September 19th Sunday 12:00pm-2:30pm
--
I would like to congratulate the following players for being selected to the final tryout camp. It's a great honor to wear the Blue and White uniform and I hope all of you come well prepared to challenge yourselves in the final camp.
Remember to make sure your paperwork is in order and to come to camp in the best shape possible. There will be a lot of competition this year so, come prepared to earn a spot.
I look forward to seeing you all in September and beginning the process of building an excellent ball hockey team.
Thank You,
Coach Gus Kourousis
Last Name |
First Name |
Camp |
DEFENSE |
||
| Bolanakis | John | Montreal |
| Hionis | Mike | Montreal |
| Zermalais | Nicko | Montreal |
| Koutsogiannopoulos | Kirk | Montreal |
| Apostolou | Kosta | Montreal |
| Moshonas | Andrew | Montreal |
| Karigiannis | Peter | Montreal |
| Legatos | Philip | Montreal |
| Skicos | Bill | Toronto |
| Manos | Chris | Toronto |
| Maleganes | Greg | Toronto |
| Barbas | Joseph | Toronto |
| Barbas | Joshua | Toronto |
| Retsinas | Poseidon | Toronto |
| Angelakos | Bill | Toronto |
| Vassilakis | Bill | Montreal |
| Vassilakos | Theo | Toronto |
FORWARDS |
||
| Chiropoulos | Jimmy | Montreal |
| Govas | Steve | Montreal |
| Vouloumanos | George | Montreal |
| Kipopoulos | Athanasios | Montreal |
| Bovoletis | Alex | Toronto |
| Barbas | Micael | Toronto |
| Nitsas | George | Toronto |
| Bozinakis | Tasso | Montreal |
| Koutsogiannopoulos | Peter | Montreal |
| Kontitsis | John | Montreal |
| Papadimitriou | John | Montreal |
| Destounis | Marino | Montreal |
| Manalis | George | Toronto |
| Kamisis | Vasilios | Montreal |
| Moutafis | Christopher | Montreal |
| Baltzis | Athanasios | Montreal |
| Doulis | Petro | Montreal |
| Tsonis | Terry | Montreal |
| Stojsin | Craig | Toronto |
| Papastergiou | Jim | Toronto |
| Aforozis | Peter | Toronto |
| Dourmis | Bobby | Toronto |
| Katsuras | Sammy | Toronto |
| Nitsas | Jim | Toronto |
| Trougakos | Will | Toronto |
| Koulouris | Panos | Greece |
| George | Tsakalos | Vancouver |
| Drakontaidis | Steven | Montreal |
| Sideris | Steven | Montreal |
| Jimmy | Tabas | Toronto |
GOALIES |
||
| Vrettis | John | Montreal |
| Moshonas | Foti | Montreal |
| Liakopoulos | Alex | Toronto |
| Kalatsis | Gus | Toronto |
Consulate General of Greece meets with HBHA representatives
Earlier this month, the HBHA's Ontario representatives, Alkiviadis Zisidis (right) and Sam Galanis (left), were invited to meet with the General Consul of Greece, Dimitris Azemopoulos (middle) following the team's success in the previous world championships.
It was an opportunity to meet with a passionate individual who shares the HBHA's dedication to success and recognizes the efforts put forward by the association and all of its members. He also applauds the individuals and enterprises that have supported the association thus far and has vowed the full involvement of the Greek Consulate going forward. As a token of gratitude, the HBHA presented Dimitris Azemopoulos with an official team jersey and team photograph signed by all the players and staff.
----------------------------------------------------
The Consulate General of Greece released the following statement following this meeting:
ΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΠΡΟΞΕΝΕΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ
CONSULATE GENERAL OF GREECE
365 BLOOR STREET EAST, SUITE 1800 TORONTO, ON. M4W 3L4,
Tel.: (416) 515-0133, Fax: (416) 515-0209, e-mail: Toronto.consulate@greekembassy.ca
To the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association
Toronto , 3 February 2010
I would like to wholeheartedly congratulate the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association (HBHA) on its amazing accomplishment in 2009 World Ball Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic . Wining the golden medal made us all so very proud of you.
There is no doubt that the above achievement is an inspiration to the Hellenic Diaspora, in particular that of Toronto and Montreal . I would also wish to underline the fact that more than ever, it is today that Hellenes living abroad, especially the youth, need to identify themselves with beacons of the undying values, principles and ideals of our Nation. I, additionally, firmly believe that the HBHA promotes the ideal of a very healthy way of life and encourages youth to get involved in athletics from an early stage.
Moreover, the most successful presence of the HBHA strengthens the spirit of unity of our Omogeneia and is a living proof that Hellenes can and do excel in all sports, even those that are not traditionally considered to be popular in Greece. This is precisely what makes the above achievement of the HBHA even a more important one.
In this context, I am fully convinced that the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association deserves the entire and active support of our Diaspora as well as the support of the Hellenic Government. Who can ever doubt the importance that should be attributed to the continuation of the HBHA’ s multiple endeavors and the crowing of its strenuous efforts, especially in a highly demanding and competitive athletic environment? And who would be ever questioning the need that an already successful Hellenic Team should continue prevailing in such an environment? The HBHA, in spite of its limited resources, has managed due to its brave Greek Heart the unthinkable.
Last but not least, I am proud to confirm that the next Gala of the HBHA will be held under the auspices and with the full involvement and active support of the General Consulate of Greece in Toronto, as a tangible evidence of my deepest and most sincere appreciation for all the good things that the HBHA has been constantly bringing forward to the Hellenic Diaspora in this country, making us all proud of our national identity and cultural heritage.
Dimitris Azemopoulos
Consul General of Greece in Toronto
http://www.grconsulate.com
Road to Slovakia
After capturing Gold (B pool) at the 2009 World Championships in Pilsen, the HBHA has begun its quest to find premier talent that will represent our great nation and heritage at the next world championships of ball hockey in Slovakia 2011.
In the new year, the association will hold a few camps to evaluate what talent pool is available. Exact dates and locations will be announced in the next couple of months so please stay stuned. Likely locations include Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa (Canada) and Thessaloniki Greece.
All camps will be designed to give every player an equal and fair opportunity to display their skills, abilities, as well as their character and passion for the game and the nation they will proubly represent. The final camps will be by invitation only however, the first camps will be open to all and these camps will be announced on our website.
We strongly encourage you to contact one of our regional representatives (below) if you are interested in trying out for the team. They can answer any questions or concerns that you may have (ie, citizenship, other requirements, etc).
We look forward to seeing you and wish you good luck.
John Kontitsis
President HBHA
Regional Representatives
Quebec: George Vouloumanos - tel: 514.924.6448
Ontario: Alkie Zisidis - tel: 416.835.3332
Thessaloniki Greece: Dimitrios Malamas - tel: 01130 699 737 3733
Poker fund raiser results and more
A big thank you is more than deserved to every single one of you that took the time to show up to our third poker fund raising event. To our great disappointment, the turnout was slightly lesser than expected (71 players total and we expected between 100-120), however many of you have been actively supporting this association since the very begining and have attended all three fund raising poker tournaments!
It was a great pleasure to see you again at this event and spend a few hours interacting. This confirms that we have a proud and loyal following! We are very humbled and honoured by this. Thank you.
To our loyal fans, we are constantly looking to improve ourselves on the field and off the field, with this in mind we will be planning the biggest and most succesful poker fund raising tournament to date. We hope that you will be there to enjoy it with us! We will notify you when that time comes.
As for players interested in trying out for Team Greece please continue to visit our website regularly as we will be posting the dates for the next training camp open to all age groups and player categories. The open camp is expected for end of spring / beginning summer.
Below are a few pictures from the poker event, you can click the picture to enlarge it.
Local Greek newspaper (BHMA) writes about Team Greece
A local newspaper from Montreal called the BHMA (the Greek Canadian Tribune) is a weekly newspaper published since 7 March 1964 and is today the oldest running Greek newspaper in Montreal.
It continues to give emphasis on events within the Greek Community at large and it is events like these which attest to the vibrant Greek Community around the world.
To read the entire article please click the following links:
Team Greece wins GOLD
When
all was said and done, Greece surprised many by capturing Gold in the
B pool at the WC08 tournament. It is quite a turn around for a team that
classified 15 out of 16 teams just two years ago in Germany. A lot of
hard work and dedication allowed for this success to become a reality.
But this success is in large part thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors
of the association. Without their help this would not have been possible.
Team Greece began the first part of the tournament a little shaky as they lost their first game against the USA (4-2), rallied to a 4-4 tie with Austria after being down 4-1 in the third and finished the qualifier round with a convincing win of 13-0 over Hong Kong. They accumulated 3 points and ranked 2nd in their group thanks to their superior plus/minus over Austria. The qualifier round is what gives teams the oppurtinity to jump into the A pool. Teams ranked in the top four of the B pool play a cross over game with the bottom four of the A pool, where a win propels them into the A and a loss leaves them in the B pool. Once the cross over games are played, and the teams ranked in the A and B pools, the real tournament begins and a round robin style tournament is played for the top prize, Gold.
Greece lost their cross over game versus a very strong Slovakia team, a team consistently among the elite of the A pool for the last 15 years. They were handed a dissapointing 10-1 loss and with the loss they remained in the B pool. Showing true character and determination the team was able to look past this defeat and focus on finishing the tournament with a positive note. They set their sights on the Gold in the B pool.
Greeece accomplished this goal and captured Gold by winning 2-1 versus a very defensive Austria team in the finals. To reach the finals they beat Pakistan 4-2 in the quater finals, the Gold medal winner in the WC07 tournament in Germany two years ago, and Hong Kong in the semi-finals 8-1.
Below are game results of all Greece matches and also the final rankings of the WC08 tournament. For more information go to the official World Cup tournament website (http://www.pilsen2009.com).
| day | place | team 1 | team 2 | result | summary & photos | video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Su 14.6. | Small hall |  USA |
 Greece |
4:2 | match details |  |
| Mo 15.6. | Small hall |  Austria |
Greece |
4:4 | match details | |
| Tu 16.6. | Small hall | Greece |
 Hong Kong |
13:0 | match details | |
| We 17.6. | CEZ Arena |  Slovakia |
Greece |
10:1 | match details | |
| Th 18.6. | Small hall | Greece |
 Pakistan |
4:2 | match details | |
| Fr 19.6. | Small hall | Hong Kong |
Greece |
1:8 | match details | |
| Sa 20.6. | Small hall | Austria |
Greece |
1:2 | match details | |
The final rankings of 8th WC in men`s ball hockey:
A-pool
1. 
Czech
Republic (Gold)
2. 
India
(Silver)
3. 
Slovakia
(Bronze)
4. 
USA
5. 
Canada
6. 
Portugal
7. 
Italy
8. 
Bermuda
B-pool
9. 
Greece (Gold)
10. 
Austria (Silver)
11. 
Switzerland (Bronze)
12. 
Hong Kong
13. 
Finland
14. 
Pakistan
15. 
Great Britain
16. 
Cayman Islands
Team Greece headed to Plzen
After two years of preparation, the time has finally arrived for
the players and staff, of Team Greece, to pack up their equipment
and head out to the Czech Republic where the 2009 World
Ball Hockey Championships will be played in front of the local
crowds of the host city Plzen. The team will arrive in Plzen this
Thursday, June 11th, where they will look to get settled in two
days before the start of the tournament.
These last few months have been very busy, especially for the HBHA committee as they have worked long hours to raise funds, prepare uniforms, fill out paperwork and tend to all the minor yet important tasks required to prepare an entire army of people for a unique overseas experience. It is with great effort that come great things, a statement that the HBHA committee hopes will hold true. With last minute adjustments and difficult decisions made along the way, the team is headed into the tournament in full confidence that positive results are in the horizon. Time will tell.
On behalf of all the players, committee and staff we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the volunteers that have dedicated their time, helping in every which way wether it was by serving cocktails at one of our fund raisers, writting up an article for the website or dancing up a storm at one of our events, each gesture has added to this possibility and we wish to thank them for it. We also wish to thank each and every one of our sponsors as they have donated generously with money earned by their businesses (and in troubled times to top it off) allowing our dream to become a reality. Please take two minutes to look over our sponsor links page you may find an association or business that will serve your needs. Help repay their generous acts. Thank you once again to everyone involved, we will do our best to make you proud to be a part of this program.
NOTE: We are bringing a laptop with us on this trip, so if everything goes according to plan, the site will be updated daily with final scores and a brief summary of the outcome while the team is competing in Plzen. You may also visit the official tournament website as they will be posting the scores and also, broadcasting live footage for some of the games. For more information, click here.
Go Team Greece!
Last stop before the World Championships in Pilsen
Montreal, Qc. In an attempt to solidy team chemistry Team Greece gathered
it's players in Montreal on May 1-3 as they took part
in the Montreal Cup, a tournament which is held in Montreal,
Quebec every year in early May. Many top tier teams enter this
tournament which presented a great oppurtinity to compete against
some of the better talent in preparation for the World Championships
in June.
Thus far, players selected out of Toronto and Montreal have been meeting regularly for team practices, exhibition games and other functions (ie, fundraisers). Players from more distant cities such as Vancouver and Alberta also joined the team this time around to participate in what wil likely be the last full team meeting before their final destination in Pilsen.
The team had a successful tournament, bowing out to the team which eventually went ahead to win the tournament, the Black Knights. This is a highly skilled team which competes yearly at the Canadian National championships, which also includes players selected to represent Team Canada in the upcoming World championships in Pilsen. Greece went on to win the first three games of the tournament while losing in semi-finals to the Black Knights. This game was perhaps the best game they played in the tournament as they went up 1-0 early in the second frame and kept that score until a penalty shot goal tied up the game towards the end of the third period. This proved to be coslty as the Black Knights capitalized in double overtime to end the battle with a score of 2-1. Despite the loss, Greece showed that they have the elements to play against some of the better talent, it is for them to prove their worth as they will be competing against some of the best talent in the world. Notable absentees for Greece were William Trougatos, Tommy Kotsopoulos and Louis Trohatos, the former being some of the better offensive elements and the later a solid stay at home defense.
On another note, the team has announced the team Captain and two Assistant captains. We hope that they will lead this team with grit, determination and great passion towards a successful tournament. George Vouloumanos has been named team Captain while, William Trougatos and Tasso Bozonakis will adorn the Assistant captaincy.
Captain: George Vouloumanos
Assistants: William Trougatos and Tasso Bozonakis
Thank you to the support from fans in Toronto, Canada
On March 27th, we had yet another succesful fund raiser event take
place in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Over 250 people came out
to support the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association in it's quest to
raise funds and also spread the word of it's current goals and future
plans.
We owe great thanks to the local support, starting from the reception
hall Spirales
Banquet Hall who donated not only the hall but also
the food that night. They did a great job and paved the way towards
the succesful turnout. Also, a lot of time and effort put in from
our local representatives, Alkie Zisidis & Sam Galanis, ensured it's
success.
The proceeds from this event and all previous and future fund raising events, benefit the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association and it's national team representing Greece on the international scene. The funds also go towards promoting the sport in Greece where the HBHA has recently established a new ball hockey league (in 2008).
The Hellenic Ball Hockey Association (HBHA) will be sending a team to represent Greece at the 2009 World Street Hockey Championships in Pilsen (CZE) hosted by the ISBHF in June 2009. You can follow the progress of the team during the tournament directly from our website or the official site of the tournament.
Stay tuned as we will be posting a promotional video recently released which sumarizes the HBHA's brief history and introduces the people at the fore front of this association. We would like to thank Steve Tasef from Red Leopard Media for making this video possible. It's thanks to our loyal supporters that our set goals become a positive reality.
Thanks again for attending our latest fund raiser, our next event will take place in Montreal (Quebec) at Light Ultra Club on April 11th. The proceeds from the tickets sold by our players will all be donated to the association. Please help make this a memorable night. You can buy tickets today via email info@hbha.gr or, phone George 514-945-4484.
*** To see more pics of the fundraiser on March 27th CLICK HERE ***
Dinner & Dance Fundraiser in Toronto on March 27th
The HBHA has organized a Dinner & Dance Fundraiser party for everyone to attend, young and old, on March 27th at the Spirales Banquet Hall in Toronto, Ontario.
Come out and enjoy some good food and a chance to celebrate with the players that will be representing Greece in the next World Ball Hockey Championship.
The Hellenic Ball Hockey Association (HBHA) will be sending a team to represent Greece at the 2009 World Street Hockey Championships in Pilsen (CZE) hosted by the ISBHF in June 2009. The World Championships are held every 2 years and 16 teams representing their respective country will attend and compete in the championship tournament.
Our goal is to represent our Country and our Heritage with honor and pride. On Friday March 27th 2009 at the Spirales Banquet Hall there will be a Dinner & Dance Fundraiser to help the Greek National Team attend the World Championships. The party begins at 6:00pm and we would love for you and your family and friends to attend this great event and help support the team. Tickets are $50 each, be sure to reserve your seat today!
For reservations, please call: Alkie Zisidis (416) 835-3332 or email info@hbha.gr
We hope to see you there!
(click flyer to enlarge)
I'm all in!
The HBHA hosted it's second fund raiser in the form
of a Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament this past weekend (January 30th)
and it was a great success all the way through. The feedback was
very positive from all the participants and we would like to thank
them for coming out to support us. We
really appreciate everyone's time and efforts,
this kind of commitment from our supporters will bring about success.
A special thanks to La
Corporation Cadillac Fairview Limitee
for allowing us to host our event in their venue and also, Baton
Rouge Anjou for supplying with snacks, drinks and a charming staff!
We would also like to thank Patrick Girard for handling the Poker tournament logistics and all the volunteers that dedicated their time towards this event.
Please continue to visit the site frequently as we will soon be posting details about our next fund raising event in Toronto, Canada. This event will be a social night with food, drinks and dancing!
See below the list of top 10 finalists of the night and also a few pictures taken during the night.
1. Tony Ciarlo ($3,250)
2. Mike Havitov ($3,250)
3. Paolo Moreira ($1,000)
4. Stas Katsiaras ($800)
5. Peter Papadakos ($600)
6. Spiro Bekiaris ($500)
7. Ugo Rolo ($350 + VIP tickets to Montreal Junior with VIP parking pass)
8. Daniel Dibartolomeo (Saku Koivu official jersey signed
+ free oil change and resto pass)
9. N/A (Alex Kovalev official signed jersey)
10. Mani Doulis (Chris Higgins official signed
jersey)
Click to enlarge the image
Team Greece 2009 roster is online
The final roster for Team Greece is now published on the site! The 2009 edition participating in the World Championships of ball hockey in Pilzen, CZE this summer (June 13-20) is a mix of individuals selected from two seperate training camps held this past year (2008), the first in Montreal in April and the second in Toronto in May.
Players selected for the taxi squad have not been included but changes may take place in unforeseen circumstances. To see the bios of players making up the Team Greece 2009, please go to the "The Team" page.
New "Affiliates" section added to the website
The HBHA consists of committee members and players from different parts of the world and we feel it’s important to acknowledge them on our website to help awareness in the local communities.
For instance, all of the players selected to represent our nation in the 2009 world championships in Pilsen currently play with their respective clubs all year around and these clubs are predominately Greek based.
On our website, we created a new section called “Affiliates” which you will find by clicking it's link on the top navigation at the extreme right. In this section, we will be posting information and updates on these local clubs.
So far, local clubs from Greece and Canada have been posted, with the help of our communitties around the world we hope to expand the list and continue adding to it.
Results Nov 15th & 16th: GRE 5 - ITA 4 // GRE 2 - POR 3
The team had it's first real test the weekend of November 15th & 16th as
they faced off against some of the better ball hockey nations in the
world, Italy and Portugal, ranked 5th and 4th respectively. The team
passed with top grades as they went 1 - 1, beating Italy 5 - 4 and
losing to Portugal 3 - 2. Previous to these two games, the players only took
part in team practices and scrimmages, it was the first challenge they tackled
as a team.
The first of the two games was played on Saturday (Nov. 15th) versus a tough and agile Italian squad. It was a nervous start for the team, as they struggled to sustain any kind of offensive pressure in the first period. While on the powerplay they opened the mark and this seemed to calm the troups and give them wings for the second period as they dominated most of the play. The game was a bit of a see saw battle as they exchanged leads with the Italians throughout the game. But they showed real character and determination to win as at one point the Italians scored two quick goals, less that two minutes apart, to take the lead 4-3 early in the third. The team battled back to tie it up and finished the game by scoring the deciding goal with under a minute remaining in the third period. It was solid performance in the end although they struggled to play even strength in the early goings of the game.
Some adjustments were made for the next game, played Sunday Nov 16th, as they faced off with a much quicker and stronger team in Portugal. This is a team that moves the ball very quickly and utilizes an accurate passing game to execute quick counter attacks from their own zone. Greece played very well positionally and used it's speed and size to force the play deep in the opposing zone. They did a very good job in clogging up the neutral zone which eliminated much of Portugal's speed. In the end, Portugal's experience and excellent team play was the determining factor as they beat out Greece 3 - 2, which also gave up two powerplay goals in this game. It was a great game nonetheless and they look forward to the next challenge.
Overall the team held their own against some of the top teams in the world and they can be proud of a great weekend of hockey. They have a lot to learn as a team trying to gel together but still, they are on the right track with competent personnel behind the scenes.
Keep watch of our news and calendar of events as we will be announcing futur dates for team practices and exhibtion games (the date/time and arena locations will be posted on the site - our apologies that this information was missing for the previous event). Note that there are talks with Team Canada for a friendly after the new year.
Photos of the game have been posted in the multimedia section
Appearance on tv show Hellas Spectrum Sunday Nov 9th
HBHA president George Kosmas along with vice-president John Kontitsis
will appear this week on the tv show Hellas Spectrum which airs every
Sunday at 10:00 am with a repeat on Monday afternoons at 5:00 pm.
The program is geared towards Montreal's Greek Community and is hosted
by John Coconas.
The show can be seen on CJNT or CH Montreal which is channel 207 on Bell ExpressVu.
For more information on this channel please visit the following website: http://www.chtv.com/ch/cjntmontreal/index.html
THANK YOU for a succesfull fund raising Poker Tournament!
Thank you to everyone that came out to support the HBHA in it's quest to raise funds. The poker tournament which was held at the Dyonissia Reception hall on October 24th, 2008 was a great success. The funds raised in this event, and all future events, will help the HBHA build a strong foundation for the association with the goal of assembling the best Greek national team possible.
Also, the funds which are gathered in these events as well as from our sponsors are used for purposes of promoting the sport within greek communities around the world and in Greece. The HBHA recently purchased and delivered (to Greece) ball hockey equipment such as hockey sticks, balls, etc. to help kick start the first ever ball hockey league in Greece (see articles below for more information).
Once again we would like to thank all our supporters that came out to this event, we truly enjoyed your company and hope to see you again at the next fund raiser!
Please continue to visit our site as we will be posting news and events on the home page calendar. Here are some pictures from the event.
From left to right: the prizes raffled at the tournament, supporters at the event, the two finalists of the tournament.
HBHA representation in Greece
The
HBHA is extremely proud and excited to announce that Jimmy Malamas of
Thessaloniki, Greece is the new Vice-President of the Association. This is
great news for Greek Ball Hockey and the association alike.
Quoting the president of the association, George Kosmas, "In the short
time we have worked together he, Mr. Malamas, has proven his true love
of the game. We strongly believe in the abilities of Mr..Malamas and that
the addition of such a classy individual will strengthen our program and
the future of ball hockey for Greece. Mr..Malamas helped bring ball hockey
to Greece and established a league which began play in October of 2008.
Together we will show the world that ball hockey can exist in Greece and
that the HBHA will play a major role in the expansion of the sport globally".
Mr. Malamas had this to say in return, "I am very happy to be part of
the HBHA, as I am excited and enthusiastic for this new program we started
here in Greece. It's really great to be part of history and my work here
has just began. It will require many hours and sacrifices but nobody is better
prepared for the task. I personally would like to thank Mr. George Kosmas
and John Kontitsis for the trust and confidence they have shown in me, they
can rest assured that the program is in good hands and that they have made
the right decision."
Last week the first ever ball hockey game was played in Greece (see related
article below).
With this new addition to the team, the HBHA is also announcing changes
to its Committee (see committee page):
George Kosmas has been named President of the association, while John Kontitsis
and Jimmy Malamas have each been named Vice-President's.
George Vouloumanos has been named Treasurer, while George Kamvosoulis,
Alkie Zisidis and John Liosis will represent their respected provinces
(in Canada).
The BALL drops in Greece!
Thessaloniki,
Greece.
The first ever official ball hockey game was played last night in Greece!
The newly founded Greek ball hockey league is officially under way and the first ball drop at center rink came yesterday, September 30th, as Aris faced off with Iraklis. This was a historic day, and an exciting moment for the players and organizers alike. Adding to this special event, was the first goal to be scored which came from the stick of the league's very own vice-president, Dimitris Malamas!
Both, the president and vice-president of the new Greek ball hockey league, were present for this special moment in Greek history. Dimitris Malamas was on the floor as the ball was dropped, he is the captain for Aris. In the leauges first game, his team recorded the first victory as they beat out Iraklis 6 to 1. The turnout was very good with expectations of more players being added to the team rosters going forward.
Currently, the league is a two team league (Aris & Iraklis) with the idea of expansion as early as next year. The schedule for the regular season has been released and regular season games will extend until May (see below for link to schedule and results).
Stay tuned as more news will be coming from Greece relating to the progress of the league and also, results of the games will be posted on the site. Video footage of the games will also be available shortly!
Click here for regular season schedule and results
In this picture we have the two teams from left to right: Iraklis (in
white) and Aris (in yellow)
Ball Hockey arrives in Greece!
Athens, Greece. The co-president
of the HBHA, George Kosmas, met with the president and vice-president
of Inline Hockey in Athens, Greece last month. The purpose of
the meeting was to discuss the current situation of hockey in Greece and
more specifically the growth of Ball Hockey.
The HBHA is extremely proud to announce that an agreement has been reached to begin a ball hockey league in Thessaloniki Greece (two teams have already joined and advertising has already begun in order to add more teams). The league will consist of a 12 game schedule + playoffs. The HBHA will receive official score sheets after each game via e-mail and post the results of the games played on the HBHA website. The games played will also be videotaped.
More exciting news came from the meeting when it was announced that a ball hockey tournament will be held for the first time in Greece next year. The dates of the tournament are not official yet, however it will most probably take place right after the World Championships. THE GREEK CUP will be the first ball hockey tournament ever held in Greece. This is a very big step for Ball Hockey in Greece and the HBHA will be very involved in helping organize both the hockey league and tournament.
The Tournament will be held in the international size outdoor rink of Thessaloniki. We will be posting cd footage of the rink in the near future.
"We are ecstatic that Ball Hockey is coming to Greece. We believe that the youth will enjoy the sport as much as Greeks do in Canada, the U.S.A and all other countries around the world. Our association will be involved in every aspect of the journey. I know that we have found the right partners in Mr..Sideropoulos and Mr..Malamas, we will have a great working relationship as it is clear that we all have the best interests of the game at heart. This is an important step towards ensuring that ball hockey becomes a global sport", said by George Kosmas.
In the picture from left to right: Jimmy Malamas (Vice-President of Inline Hockey in Greece), George Kosmas (Co-President Hellenic Ball Hockey Association), Bobby Sideropoulos (President Inline Hockey in Greece)
105.1 MikeFM to air Poker Tournament ad
In an effort to help the HBHA
put together a succesfull fund raiser, the Montreal based radio station
105.1 MikeFM will be running an ad for the Poker Tournament every day starting
tomorrow, September 5th 2008. The ad will run between 6:00-9:00pm every
night.
You can tune into 105.1 MikeFM on your radio or click here to listen live.
We would like to thank everyone at the station for their support!
TEXAS HOLD 'EM Poker Tournament to raise funds - October 24th
The HBHA is organizing a Poker Tournament which is open to ALL!
We invite you to participate in our event and we hope that you will come support us in our quest to raise funds for the HBHA. The money will be used to help promote the sport of ball hockey in Greece (supplying equipment, rule books, etc) and also towards funding the costs of it's national team for attending International and European events, such as the 2009 World Championships being held in Pilzen, Czech Republic.
Poker tournament information:
- The entry fee includes a warm meal before you begin play as well as your seat at the poker table
- The tournament will be a Texas Hold 'Em style tournament, with prizes and cash for the top 10 finish
- All players begin with the same value in chips
- Unlimited re-buys allowed in the first hour of play (re-buys are $20 each)
- Blinds go up every 15 mins and there is a short break every hour of play
Date: October 24th, 2008
Time: 6:00pm (EST)
Entry Fee: $50
Location: Dionyssia Reception Hall - 640 Jarry W. (H3N 1G2)
DOWNLOAD/VIEW EVENT FLYER :
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
For more information or to reserve your seat please contact Andrew Moshonas (t: 514-585-2695 / e: amoshonas55@hotmail.com)
For a little amount you can make a huge difference! Come out and play!
HBHA announces the final roster for TEAM GREECE
The HBHA is proud to announce it's final roster for the 2009 World Championships being held in Pilsen of the Czech Republic. The tournament takes place between June 13th and June 20th. The players representing Team Greece have been selected out of the evaluation camps held in Montreal and Toronto.
Below is the complete list of players that were selected as part of the final roster for TEAM GREECE. These are the players that will participate in the 2009 World Championships.
TEAM GREECE 2009 Edition |
||
|---|---|---|
FORWARDS Dimitrios Papastergiou Alex Bovoletis Angelo Stavrianos William Trougakos George Tsakalos Mario Argiris Vassilios Kamisis Andrew Stamiris Athanasios Kipopoulos George Vouloumanos Nick Fudas John Kontitsis Tasso Bozinakis Steve Zervidakis |
DEFENSE Steve Govas Terry Sotirakos Andrew Moshonas John Bolonakis Billy Vassilakis Theodoros Vassilakos Greg Maleganeas John Demos |
GOALKEEPER Fotios Moshonas Alex Liakopoulos John Liosis |
** A list of players have also been selected as part of the taxi squad, these players will be contacted by the coaching staff.
TEAM GREECE selections out of Toronto Evaluation Camp
The HBHA is proud to announce the player selections made out of the Toronto Evaluation Camp. These players will have the honor of representing Team Greece at the 2009 World Championships in Pilsen, CZE. Thank you to all who participated at the training camps in Montreal and Toronto.
Below is the list of players selected out of the Toronto Evaluation Camp:
Forwards:
Dimitrios Papastergiou
Alex Bovoletis
Angelo Stavrianos
William Trougakos
George Tsakalos (Vancouver)
Defenseman:
Theodoros Vassilakos
Greg Maleganeas
Goalkeepers:
Alex Liakopoulos
John Liosis (Alberta)
Thank you to the team at MikeFM 105.1FM !
The HBHA would like to thank Mrs Marie Griffiths for having Co-President John Kontitsis and Secretary George Kamvosoulis on the 105.1 MikeFM airvwaves with her this past Wednesday July 16th, 2008 (from 11:15-11:45).
"It was a real honor to be on the air with such a recognized Greek legend of Montreal radio. Every Greek household has tuned in to the station since the 60's, for music or news, they are the Greek voice of Montreal", said John Kontitsis.
Marie is a very big hockey fan and very sincere in her efforts to help our association in every which way possible. Her partnership with us will be one for many years to come. Once again we express our gratitude to her and all her colleagues at MIke FM 105.1.
Sincerely,
HBHA
Tune in to MikeFM 105.1FM !
This Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 @ 11:15AM tune in to MikeFM 105.1FM and listen to Co-President John Kontitsis, and newly elected Secretary George Kamvosoulis, speak with host Maria Griffiths regarding the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association and the '09 World Championships.
You can listen live online on the MikeFM 105.1FM website.
HBHA
Les Immeubles Kronos, lending a helping hand!
Les Immeubles Kronos Inc, has been announced as the first major sponsor of the HBHA.
President Peter Strifas personally handed his cheque of $5000 to HBHA Co-President John Kontitsis. "It is a pleasure to lend a helping hand to a young association of Greek Athletes, and we wish them all the luck next year in the World Championships"
Co-President John Kontitsis said in return: "We are extremely thankful to Mr.Strifas and his Real Estate agency. It is nice to see that such a reputable company believe in our vision and the goals we have in mind. We are very appreciative and we hope other Greek businessmen will follow their lead"
The HBHA requires approximately $70 000 in order to send the team to the Czech Republic in June 2009 to represent Greece at the World Ball Hockey Championships. This includes costs for flights, accommodations, equipment, transportation etc.
Anyone interested in sponsoring our program can visit our sponsorhip section for more information or contact any one of our representatives to review our packages.
Sincerely,
HBHA
Player selections for Team Greece have begun
The first wave of players to represent Team Greece in the '09 World Championships have been chosen. The level of competition was very high and there were difficult decisions to be made in almost all positions. The complete roster of the team will consist of up to 25 players, including a taxi squad which will be formed for unforeseen complications before or during the tournament.
For now, all players chosen out of the Montreal Evaluation Camp held last April will be announced and the balance of the team will be announced in the coming weeks. The rest of the team will see players selected out of Toronto, Alberta and Vancouver.
Below is the list of players selected out of Montreal, Qc:
F- Mario Argiris
F- Vassilios Kamisis
F- Andrew Stamiris
F- Athanasios Kipopoulos
F- George Vouloumanos
F- Nick Fudas
F- John Kontitsis
F- Tasso Bozinakis
F- Steve Zervidakis
D- Steve Govas
D- Terry Sotirakos
D- Andrew Moshonas
D- John Bolonakis
D- Billy Vassilakis
G- Fotios Moshonas
A big thank you to all the players that attended the camp in Montreal, we hope that you will all take this time to be proud of your achievement. It is a long road to the tournament in Czech Republic, we hope that you are ready and excited for the challenge to represent your country on the world stage.
Yours truly,
The Coaching Staff
The HBHA would like to thank the TEAM 990 and Tony Marinaro
The Hellenic Ball Hockey Association would like to thank the TEAM 990 and Tony Marinaro for having the co-presidents of the association, George Cosmas and John Kontitsis, on the show friday April 25th (@ 10:45am). It was with great pleasure that they accepted the oppurtinity to speak a little about the association, it's purpose and future goals on a reputable sports radio station as is the TEAM 990 (also known as Montreal's Sports Authority).
Thanks again to the team of professionals involved in this event.
Yours truly,
George Kosmas and John Kontitsis
Co-Presidents George Kosmas and John Kontitsis on the air with the TEAM 990
This coming friday (April 25th) at 10:45am the co-presidents of the HBHA, George Kosmas and John Kontitsis, will be on the air with Tony Marinaro of the TEAM 990 sports radio show. Tune in and listen to what they have to say!
To listen live, go to the TEAM 990 website - http://www.team990.com
New arena location for Montreal evaluation camp in April
The Evaluation Camp in Montreal (April 18-20) will be held at the Marcel-Wilson arena (11301 Boulevard de l`Acadie, Montreal - H3M 2T1)
See Google map below for location of the facility.
Registration deadline for the Evaluation Camp is March 20th - Only a few spots remain
Please take note that March 20th is the deadline date to submit your registration for the Montreal Evaluation Camp (April 18-20). Each player's registration form along with full payment must be submitted by March 20th at the latest, this will give our staff adequate time to make final preparations for the camp.
** Few spots remaining **
Be advised that only a handfull of spots are still available for the evaluation camp. Currently, the only openings left are: 1 goalie, 2 defense, and 4 forwards.
Good luck to all players!
** CAMP DATES CHANGED ** the dates of the evaluation camp in Montreal have changed to April 18, 19 and 20
The dates of the evaluation camp in Montreal have changed due to a conflicting schedule with the Montreal Cup tournament which is being held that same weekend (May 2, 3 and 4). The Montreal camp will move ahead by two weeks for April 18, 19 and 20.
Adding to this, Team Greece will likely enter one and maybe two teams to participate in the upcoming Montreal Cup tournament. The team(s) will be formed with individuals that will have attended the Montreal evaluation camp.
If you have any questions or if you have already registered for the camp in May and this causes a problem, please contact us immediately either by email (coach@hbha.gr) or phone 514-831-6604.
Official domain is now 'hbha.gr'
Please take note that our domain has changed to 'hbha.gr'. This is now the official domain of the Hellenic Ball Hockey Association. We are working hard to have our new site up and running as soon as possible, please check back often as we will continue to post important information and updates on this page.
If you have any questions about the association, the upcoming training camp in May 2008 or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@hbha.gr
Team Greece sets it's sights for the 2009 World Championship in Pilsen, CZE!
The HBHA is proud to announce it's first official evaluation camp in preparation for the 2009 World Championship being held in Pilsen, CZE. This camp is open to players from all levels and categories interested in trying out for the National Greek Team.
To learn more, please visit the training camp page.
Minutes and brief summary of annual ISBHF meeting held in Madrid, Spain
Madrid, Spain, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, played
host to the ISBHF 2008 Annual Congress in January. The site was strategically
selected to explore street hockey potential in the Iberian Region.
Discussions with Portuguese inline hockey organizers, and a newly
formed Spanish Street Hockey Association brings hope of a stronger
presence from this southern part of Europe.
Representing Greek Ball Hockey several of our committee members, President
John Kontitsis, Andrew Moshonas and Athanasios Kipopoulos attended
the meeting.
The following are just a few of the important topics that were discussed
in this meeting.
Greece:
New committee formed with an approved Constitution, Financial Policies,
and development contract with ISBHF, driven by mandate from Canadian
Ball Hockey Association, as per its regulations governing foreign
programs operating from Canada. This standard will be used for all
other Growing Member Nations with committees based in Canada in an
effort to protect the integrity of the sport, and ensure positive
development in the home country of those national committees. Have
contacted Greek Ice Hockey and Inline Hockey directors to build a
relationship to foster grass roots development in Greece.
New Committee and website : (HBHA) Hellenic Ball Hockey Association - www.hbha.gr
1. ISBHF Board of Directors Elections
Total of 18 votes were eligible. First ballot results:
(# of votes - representative name)
18 - Domenico Di Gironimo
14 - Thomas Melcher
12 - Christoph Curchod
11 - Jaroslav Melisek
11 - John Kontitsis
10 - Tony Iannitto
8 - Vit Rezav
6 - Martin Kirsch
Six candidates achieved minimum majority however John Kontitsis withdrew from the elected board, citing his lack of experience. This in turn promoted Mr. Tony Iannitto to fill the final elected position.
Domenico Di Gironimo was re-elected as President of ISBHF for a 2-year term by the newly elected Board of Directors.
NOTE: Congratulations to John Kontitsis for being elected on the Board of Directors, it was a real honour for him. However he felt that the timing of this honor bestowed upon him was not right due to a lack of knowledge on the functions of an elected ISBHF board member. As well, he judged that it would best, for the ISBHF and HBHA, to devote 100% of his time and energy to develop a strong foundation towards a successful and new Hellenic Ball Hockey program.
2. Ratification of New Members & Member Classifications
Israel was approved as a new member.
3. Future World and European Championships
4. Congress meeting for January ’09:
Helsinki, Finland (tentative).
Consideration for 2010 meeting:
Athens, GRE
