All ready.
The Arnprior organizing committee for the 2012 World Broomball Championships gathers around the event logo, inset into the ice of Arena A at the Nick Smith Centre, last Wednesday. Committee members, from left, Glenn Arthur, Jay Koch, Shay Klimpel, Terry Dykens, John Dalgity, Ruth Brown, George Brown (chair of the event host committee as well), Don Belton, Dan Kennedy, Bill Mulvihill and Jack Daley are working hard on organizing the local aspects of the event. The 2012 championships will take place Oct. 29 to Nov. 3 at different Ottawa Valley venues, with the finals set for the Nick Smith Centre.
file photo
Arnprior’s reputation for rallying behind its sports teams and major athletic events is proving true again.
And there is a lot to rally behind.
More than 200 volunteers have come forward in Arnprior to help the town host the World Broomball championships that will be held from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3.
Arnprior is also hosting the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League fall showcase this weekend for the first time.
It’s also in line to be home base next spring for one of the teams competing in the world women’s hockey championship.
Arnprior’s Junior B hockey team is defending Valley division champion and several Arnprior District High School teams are strong contenders to repeat last season’s successes. One of its athletes, John Leslie, has qualified for the 2014 Para Olympics.
Arnprior has become quite the sporting town.
“It never ceases to amaze me,” said Arnprior recreation director Glenn Arthur. “When we put something on in this town, people come out to participate. We couldn’t do it without them.”
The 56 teams from several countries will be arriving in just over two weeks to compete in the prestigious tournament that will be played in Arnprior, Pakenham, Almonte, Carleton Place and Beckwith.
The final games will be played at the Nick Smith Centre.
Arthur said he could do with more volunteers in Pakenham, but the Arnprior contingent of helpers is strong.
A number of Arnprior District High School students have jumped on board to help during the tournament.
Arnprior noted that all five Arnprior schools. including ADHS, as well as McNab Public school, are participating in an adopt-a-country program.
The students will attend a game played by a team from its adopted country to cheer them on
In return, the players will be visiting their school to talk about sportsmanship, athletics and the game of broomball.
The posters to promote the tournament were going up around the area Monday.
The schedule of games should be finalized this week.
Tickets will soon be available. There will be weekly and day passes, which let fans into all of the arenas involved.
Students are admitted free.
“Now it’s a matter of things falling into place,” said Arthur.
There will be men’s, women’s, mixed and master’s divisions.
“It will be world class broomball,” Arthur said. “It should be great to watch.”
For more information about broomball and the World tournament, visit the website www.2012worldbroomball.ca.