A Dauphin native helped Canada win a gold medal in the Legends Division at the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation’s world championships.
Held in Černošice, Czech Republic, July 28 to Aug. 1, Laura Gibbs helped backstop Canada to the gold medal, going 4-0 in the process, while Canada was undefeated at 5-0.
Canada opened the tournament with an 11-0 win over Great Britain, then beat Czechia, 8-0, and ended the round-robin with a 6-0 win over the US.
The Canadians then beat Great Britain, 10-0 in the semifinals and clinched the gold with a 9-0 victory over Czechia.
Gibbs started playing ball hockey not long after she moved to Edmonton about 15 years ago.
“I joined a team and have been playing ever since. So I’ve probably been playing for 15 years on and off,” she said.
Gibbs knew there were national championships for various age groups and put her name forward to play for a championship, but wasn’t selected.
“But this spring I was lucky enough to get selected with the women’s legends team to go join with them to go to Prague this summer and compete in the first ever women’s legends world championships,” she said.
A goaltender, Gibbs was not overly busy, having to make only seven saves in the four games she played.
“Canada was very dominant. We knew we would be strong going into it, but I feel like there were some teams that assumed because of the age group, they weren’t overly concerned about the skill level. But Canada definitely came to compete,” she said.
“Neither of the goalies on the Canadian team were very busy, because the team was just so strong ahead of us.”
Being a world champion still hasn’t sunk in for Gibbs yet.
“It’s unreal. I still feel in awe when I see the medal hanging up and some of the photos from the championship. It’s unbelievable. I think any kid, as an athlete, you dream of playing at the highest level possible whatever sport you’re in,” Gibbs said.
“So to be able to wear the Maple Leaf was a once in a lifetime, truly like a dream come true experience.”
Besides the lack of ice, the biggest difference between ice hockey and ball hockey is the amount of running involved.
“I think a lot of the players get a wakeup call with how much running is involved. You don’t realize how much you can glide when you’re playing ice hockey versus ball hockey. It’s a pile of running,” she said.
“As a goalie, the ball plays very differently than a puck. It curves and dips and dives and kind of does it’s own thing when some of those girls and guys hit it. It plays very differently.”
Equipment, Gibbs added, is minimal, but goalie equipment is pretty much the same as in ice hockey, other than the skates.
“A lot of the players just wear a soccer shin guard or ball hockey shin pads, a helmet and gloves and that’s about it,” she said.
The higher level you get, the rougher it gets, Gibbs said, but there is no body contact like there is in ice hockey.
“You can’t lay a hit on somebody. But it’s pretty close. The higher level you play, the more they let slide,” she said.
Gibbs encourages anyone interested to take up ball hockey, noting it is a great summer option in a lot of places where they pull the ice out of rinks in the summer.
“It allows you to keep playing. It forces you to increase your cardio and your endurance, because it’s a ton of running. But it’s a blast. I love it,” she said.
“I started playing a lot more ball hockey than ice hockey now.”
Gibbs played ringette while growing up in Dauphin and credits her growth in sport to all her coaches.
“They got me started and pushed me to never take no for an answer or stop believing in yourself. I’m super grateful for all of the support I received from all of those guys growing up and the friends and family that I had supported me through the tournament, watched all the games while I was overseas. I’ll never forget that,” she said.