Post by Global on May 21, 2010 22:59:44 GMT
Another interesting report from the Canada Bandy Association website about the history of bandy in this country:
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Bandy was first introduced in Canada, in the city of Winnipeg in 1986. At that time, the International Bandy Federation, the Swedish Bandy Federation and ESSINGE Bandy Club decided to try to promote the sport of Bandy in Canada, the "land of ice hockey". They identified Winnipeg for two reasons. First, because it was close in proximity to the city of Minneapolis, where Bandy was already established, and Winnipeg Jets hockey player, Thomas Steen played bandy when he was younger and was familiar with the sport. They thought that Steen could help establish the sport in Winnipeg.
A young Swedish player, by the name of Roger Jakobsson, was selected to make the trip and become a "Bandy Missionary". Before coming to Winnipeg, Roger traveled to Minneapolis to meet with some of the American Bandy Personnel and establish a connection with them. One of the players worked for the Apple Valley Recreation Commission and took Roger to see his supervisor to discuss establishing Bandy in the city of Apple Valley (close to Minneapolis). While meeting with the superintendent of recreation, Jon Gurban, Roger mentioned that he was destined for Winnipeg. Jon Gurban had attended University in Winnipeg and was friends with Morris Glimcher, the Executive Director of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association in Winnipeg. Jon phoned Morris and asked him to meet Roger and help him get started in Winnipeg. Morris picked Roger up at the airport and helped him set up his operations. He took Roger to a Winnipeg Jets practice to meet Thomas Steen. Thomas introduced Roger to some of his other friends as well.
Roger came to work out of Morris's office, in the Sport Manitoba building and Morris was able to arrange for a University student to work with Roger and help him make contact with students. Roger set up a display at the University of Manitoba and a number of students were interested in the sport. He found ice time and demonstrated bandy to these individuals. The sport grew and a group of individuals raised money and went to Ljusdal for the World Cup in October of 1987. This was the first time that Canadian Bandy players ever traveled overseas. They participated in a training camp in Falun, and had exhibition matches with other teams. They did not play in Ljusdal, but observed the games and were part of the atmosphere. That year, some Finnish individuals offered the Canadians an opportunity to travel to Finland for a day to play against a Finnish team. They arranged for travel on the ferry boat and it enhanced the Canadians' experience.
The Canadians traveled to Ljusdal on three other occasions. Since then, Canada has participated in six World Championships, up to 2005, and participated in almost thirty international matches. Canada participates in the "B" Group Championships.
Their first World Championship was in Finland in 1991. In 1993, they competed in Hamar, Norway on an indoor ice surface. This is the same ice surface that was used to host the Olympic Speedskating Championships. In 1995, they traveled to Minneapolis, USA, and in 1997 Participated in Sweden in various locations across the country. The King of Sweden, King Carl-Gustav opened the event. The Canadians missed the 1999 Championships in Russia,The 2001 event in Finland and also passed on 2003 in Russia, but returned to action in 2004 in Budapest, Hungary where a separate B Pool took place. In 2005, they participated in the championships in Kazan, Russia, where they lost to Belarus in a shoot out for the "B" title.
A group of ladies participated in a tournament in Russia in 1990 and also had some exhibition matches in the Netherlands that year. The female program really began in 2006 with a number of Ringette players taking on a new sport and participating in the World Championship in Roseville Minnesota. They did OK considering that they were very new to the sport. The returned, and with more experience participated in the 2007 Women's World Bandy Championship, February 11-17 in Budapest, Hungary. This is only the second time Canadian women have fielded a team to compete at a World Bandy Championship, which included representation from Russia, Finland, Norway, United States, Sweden and host nation, Hungary.
The Canadian team, coached by Gennaro Macchia and Goran Svensson put forth a spirited effort against each of the competing nations, and for the first time, a North American team competed for a medal. with Team Canada playing favoured Norway in the bronze medal game. The game finished tied 3-3 after regulation time, only to see the Canadians come up short in a penalty shot shootout. Team Canada opened the scoring, later falling behind 3-1, but fought hard to get back to even and carried the play throughout most of the second half. In all, Team Canada posted victories against Hungary, USA and Finland, finishing the round-robin play with 3 wins and 3 losses, losing to the World Champions from Sweden, Russia and Norway. As a result of their play, Team Canada earned a place in a semi-final game against Russia, before playing Norway in the bronze medal final, February 16.
The Canadian Team was made up of elite athletes from Winnipeg and surrounding areas. Team Canada Players: Sheena MacDonald, Chelsea Hansen, Michelle Madziak, Andrea Ferguson, Aisnley Ferguson, Lindsay Burns, Courtney Burns, Lynn Despiegelaere, Danielle Sykes, Amy Clarkson, Caley Miskimmin, Kristy Maksymyk, Lindsay Myseniuk, Shelly Hruska, Christine Delisle, Dominique Carriere & Mandy Nordstrom. Coaches, Gennaro Macchia and Goren Svensson (from Sweden). Manager, Jan Burns, Team Leader, Colin Ferguson.
"They did Canada proud".said Genarro Macchia, Coach for Team Canada. "Last year we posted only one win and scored just two goals. this year we improved that position winning three round robin games, scoring 19 goals and playing in a bronze medal final for the first time in Canadian Bandy history, only to fall short after playing to a 3-3 tie during regulation time. Considering this is only our second year playing and our second world championship, Team Canada served notice that they are now ready to compete against the elite teams in the world. the future of Women's Bandy in Canada looks bright," added Macchia.
Christine Deslisle is playing for a Swedish team, Stockholm AIK for the 07/08 season.
Of the original group of players and organizers from 1986, Morris Glimcher remains President of the Manitoba and Canadian Bandy Federations and sits on the Federation of International Bandy Board of Directors as a Vice President. Costa Cholakis was an original player and still plays as a member of the national team as well as coaching the Women's National team.
Several players have played internationally to gain experience. Costa Cholakis and Mike Jenkinsson played in Sweden (Essinge club) in 1988. Paul Mingotti (Granesborg)and Brad Mazur played in 1999. In 2001, both Sam Martin and Kasey Boisselle played for Skiro club in Vettlanda, Sweden. During the 2005-2006 season, Brandon Ellement and Jason Neufeld are playing on a team in Norway.
Bandy is continuing to grow, and with the hopes that in 2014 it may be an Olympic sport, the future is bright for Bandy in Canada.
Bandy Canada president Morris Glimcher presenting Hall of Fame plaques to KG Jansson (L) and Roger Jakobsson (R)
==============================================
Bandy was first introduced in Canada, in the city of Winnipeg in 1986. At that time, the International Bandy Federation, the Swedish Bandy Federation and ESSINGE Bandy Club decided to try to promote the sport of Bandy in Canada, the "land of ice hockey". They identified Winnipeg for two reasons. First, because it was close in proximity to the city of Minneapolis, where Bandy was already established, and Winnipeg Jets hockey player, Thomas Steen played bandy when he was younger and was familiar with the sport. They thought that Steen could help establish the sport in Winnipeg.
A young Swedish player, by the name of Roger Jakobsson, was selected to make the trip and become a "Bandy Missionary". Before coming to Winnipeg, Roger traveled to Minneapolis to meet with some of the American Bandy Personnel and establish a connection with them. One of the players worked for the Apple Valley Recreation Commission and took Roger to see his supervisor to discuss establishing Bandy in the city of Apple Valley (close to Minneapolis). While meeting with the superintendent of recreation, Jon Gurban, Roger mentioned that he was destined for Winnipeg. Jon Gurban had attended University in Winnipeg and was friends with Morris Glimcher, the Executive Director of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association in Winnipeg. Jon phoned Morris and asked him to meet Roger and help him get started in Winnipeg. Morris picked Roger up at the airport and helped him set up his operations. He took Roger to a Winnipeg Jets practice to meet Thomas Steen. Thomas introduced Roger to some of his other friends as well.
Roger came to work out of Morris's office, in the Sport Manitoba building and Morris was able to arrange for a University student to work with Roger and help him make contact with students. Roger set up a display at the University of Manitoba and a number of students were interested in the sport. He found ice time and demonstrated bandy to these individuals. The sport grew and a group of individuals raised money and went to Ljusdal for the World Cup in October of 1987. This was the first time that Canadian Bandy players ever traveled overseas. They participated in a training camp in Falun, and had exhibition matches with other teams. They did not play in Ljusdal, but observed the games and were part of the atmosphere. That year, some Finnish individuals offered the Canadians an opportunity to travel to Finland for a day to play against a Finnish team. They arranged for travel on the ferry boat and it enhanced the Canadians' experience.
The Canadians traveled to Ljusdal on three other occasions. Since then, Canada has participated in six World Championships, up to 2005, and participated in almost thirty international matches. Canada participates in the "B" Group Championships.
Their first World Championship was in Finland in 1991. In 1993, they competed in Hamar, Norway on an indoor ice surface. This is the same ice surface that was used to host the Olympic Speedskating Championships. In 1995, they traveled to Minneapolis, USA, and in 1997 Participated in Sweden in various locations across the country. The King of Sweden, King Carl-Gustav opened the event. The Canadians missed the 1999 Championships in Russia,The 2001 event in Finland and also passed on 2003 in Russia, but returned to action in 2004 in Budapest, Hungary where a separate B Pool took place. In 2005, they participated in the championships in Kazan, Russia, where they lost to Belarus in a shoot out for the "B" title.
A group of ladies participated in a tournament in Russia in 1990 and also had some exhibition matches in the Netherlands that year. The female program really began in 2006 with a number of Ringette players taking on a new sport and participating in the World Championship in Roseville Minnesota. They did OK considering that they were very new to the sport. The returned, and with more experience participated in the 2007 Women's World Bandy Championship, February 11-17 in Budapest, Hungary. This is only the second time Canadian women have fielded a team to compete at a World Bandy Championship, which included representation from Russia, Finland, Norway, United States, Sweden and host nation, Hungary.
The Canadian team, coached by Gennaro Macchia and Goran Svensson put forth a spirited effort against each of the competing nations, and for the first time, a North American team competed for a medal. with Team Canada playing favoured Norway in the bronze medal game. The game finished tied 3-3 after regulation time, only to see the Canadians come up short in a penalty shot shootout. Team Canada opened the scoring, later falling behind 3-1, but fought hard to get back to even and carried the play throughout most of the second half. In all, Team Canada posted victories against Hungary, USA and Finland, finishing the round-robin play with 3 wins and 3 losses, losing to the World Champions from Sweden, Russia and Norway. As a result of their play, Team Canada earned a place in a semi-final game against Russia, before playing Norway in the bronze medal final, February 16.
The Canadian Team was made up of elite athletes from Winnipeg and surrounding areas. Team Canada Players: Sheena MacDonald, Chelsea Hansen, Michelle Madziak, Andrea Ferguson, Aisnley Ferguson, Lindsay Burns, Courtney Burns, Lynn Despiegelaere, Danielle Sykes, Amy Clarkson, Caley Miskimmin, Kristy Maksymyk, Lindsay Myseniuk, Shelly Hruska, Christine Delisle, Dominique Carriere & Mandy Nordstrom. Coaches, Gennaro Macchia and Goren Svensson (from Sweden). Manager, Jan Burns, Team Leader, Colin Ferguson.
"They did Canada proud".said Genarro Macchia, Coach for Team Canada. "Last year we posted only one win and scored just two goals. this year we improved that position winning three round robin games, scoring 19 goals and playing in a bronze medal final for the first time in Canadian Bandy history, only to fall short after playing to a 3-3 tie during regulation time. Considering this is only our second year playing and our second world championship, Team Canada served notice that they are now ready to compete against the elite teams in the world. the future of Women's Bandy in Canada looks bright," added Macchia.
Christine Deslisle is playing for a Swedish team, Stockholm AIK for the 07/08 season.
Of the original group of players and organizers from 1986, Morris Glimcher remains President of the Manitoba and Canadian Bandy Federations and sits on the Federation of International Bandy Board of Directors as a Vice President. Costa Cholakis was an original player and still plays as a member of the national team as well as coaching the Women's National team.
Several players have played internationally to gain experience. Costa Cholakis and Mike Jenkinsson played in Sweden (Essinge club) in 1988. Paul Mingotti (Granesborg)and Brad Mazur played in 1999. In 2001, both Sam Martin and Kasey Boisselle played for Skiro club in Vettlanda, Sweden. During the 2005-2006 season, Brandon Ellement and Jason Neufeld are playing on a team in Norway.
Bandy is continuing to grow, and with the hopes that in 2014 it may be an Olympic sport, the future is bright for Bandy in Canada.
Bandy Canada president Morris Glimcher presenting Hall of Fame plaques to KG Jansson (L) and Roger Jakobsson (R)
What do you mean, is there a new generation of Canadian bandy players coming?