9:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Hi-Life Pizza and Bar
10:00pm to 11:30 pm - Broomball - Oakland Ice Center
$15 per person (broomball only)
Broomball
No skates. No Problem. Play on the ice with your shoes! Broomball is great group entertainment and individual exercise that's played on the ice with rules and strategies similar to hockey. Team players strike a ball the size of a small soccer ball with specially designed brooms and try to score goals into a net guarded by a goal-tender. The brooms are made of corn-straw dipped in rubber or solid molded rubber, and are perfect for 'sweeping your team to victory'. Broomball originated in Canada in the early 1900's and has grown into a popular sport on all levels with youth, men, women and coed teams playing competitively and recreationally. Oakland Ice Center provides the brooms and the ball.
What is Broomball? Broomball originated in Canada in the early 1900s. Its rules and strategies are similar to those of hockey. However, broomball is played on the ice without skates, and the puck used in hockey is replaced by a ball the size of a small soccer ball. "Brooms” or sticks with solid molded rubber are used instead of traditional hockey sticks. Brooms are used to maneuver the ball around the rink and into the opponent’s net which is protected by a goal-tender.
What do I Need to Play? The sport of broomball is played with a specialized stick bearing a molded, solid rubber tip and an inflatable ball about the size of a small soccer ball. Helmets are required. Other protective gear such as elbow pads, knee pads, shin guards, and gloves are strongly recommended but not mandatory. Rubber soled, non-marking athletic shoes are recommended for better traction on the ice. No spikes, cleats, heavy boots, or similar footwear is permitted.
Why Should I Play? Broomball is growing in popularity not only throughout the country but around the world. This fast-paced sport has been called the "alternative sport on ice”. It is a terrific way to exercise and compete in a team environment. Canada and North America currently produce the largest number of competitive and recreational broomball leagues, but the sport is growing in Scandinavia, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, and Italy. Since skating skills are not required, broomball is a great sport for anyone.