The game of Ball Hockey was originally rooted and played in its most simplistic form by youngsters on the streets, paved parking lots and schoolyards of neighbourhood communities.  The Ontario Ball Hockey Association (OBHA), which was founded in 1974, pioneered the development and administration of this truly Canadian cultural phenomenon into a highly structured and organized sport throughout the province of Ontario.

In 1977 the OBHA opened its doors to the Minor Hockey Leagues and established the first Provincial Minors Ball Hockey Committee.  The inaugural Championship was held in Oshawa that year as four teams vied for the under 17 title.  Since the inception Minors Championship event over 20 years ago, the division has grown exponentially.  Today the Association governs hundreds of teams at various minor levels of participation across the province that compete in the OBHA's largest and most spectacular championship event each year.

Over the past thirty years, however, not only has the OBHA experienced unparalleled success at the league in the provincial level of participation, but it has also helped provide a foundation for the growth and development of the same at the national (CBHA) and most recently the international (ISBHF) level of competition.  The OBHA has become the archetype for the sport of ball hockey throughout the years as it continues to foster the evolution and maturation of the game throughtout Canada.

K.M.B.H.L's Local History      (Kingston This Week, March 2nd, 2004)

Street hockey, the beloved winter sport played across the city and Canada, is coming to an area near you this spring. The Kingston Ball Hockey Association will keep hockey alive when the ice comes out when it launches its inaugural season in April. Rick Carr, who started a ball hockey league in Belleville in the late 1970s, is bringing the game to Kingston. When Carr moved to this hockey town several years ago, he was surprised no ball hockey league existed. There has already been local interest in the game through the league's Web site, and Carr believes there is a strong appeal for the game.
"It's a simple sport," says Carr of the non-contact game. "It's a Canadian sport. They play it on the street, the driveway, this is just organized. Carr is the co-founder of the Belleville league now in its 18th year. That experience has helped create the Kingston league, he says, because organizers aren't starting from scratch.Ball hockey leagues, according to the Ontario association, started in Canada in the 1970s. By the late 70s Canada had provincial and national championships for ball hockey, which still exist today. Ball hockey attracts a mix of hockey enthusiasts, says Carr. Players are usually comprised of existing ice hockey players and those who may want to play ice hockey but have neither the time or finances to participate. Differences between ball hockey and ice hockey are subtle. The ball replaces the puck and shoes replace skates, but essentially the game of hockey stays the same. Ball hockey is rather inexpensive compared to its winter counterpart. Carr says required equipment includes a helmet with a cage, hockey gloves, soccer-style shin pads, a stick and shoes.
"It's also good dry-land training for hockey players." says Carr. "And it's the perfect scenario for the non-player." The league will operate from April to mid-July and play games on weekday nights at Kingston area rinks. The league is open to players aged five to 18 in seven divisions from tyke to midget. The registration fee is $110 per player and includes a shirt and a year-end medal. The Kingston league will be part of the Ontario Ball Hockey Association, says Carr. That will allow the Kingston league to put teams into the provincial championship. Carr says the league's first year may be a learning experience but in time, he expects the Limestone City could win a provincial title. Kingston will be represented at the provincial championships by an all-star team from each division, says Carr. The league is always looking for referees, coaches, volunteers and sponsors. For more details on the Kingston league or to obtain a registration form, visit www.kingstonballhockey.ca or call Carr at 1-888-799-4449.