Ken-Ton has had many athletes, past and present, shine in their respective sports. We've had New York State champions, Section VI champions, U.S. national qualifiers, and even an Olympic medalist! Now, Ken-Ton is hoping to add "World 4v4 Ball Hockey Champion" to the list!
Joe Stawisuck, a technology teacher at Franklin Middle, will be representing Ken-Ton, New York, and North America at the upcoming World 4 vs. 4 Ball Hockey Championships! The event is taking place in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic from November 23-28.
"I am very honored to represent Team North America Red with my teammates to battle for the World 4 vs. 4 Ball Hockey Championships," Stawisuck said. "I'll be competing for a medal and the title of World Champion"!
Ball hockey is a team sport similar to ice hockey, except the sport is played on foot and with a ball, instead of on ice with a puck. The objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team by shooting the ball into the opposing team's net. Stawisuck has been playing every kind of variation of hockey his whole life, but ball hockey is his favorite. The sport has grown exponentially over the years, giving athletes the chance to compete against top-level talent.
"I've competed in area tournaments and have traveled to play all across the U.S. and Canada. Some of the tournaments were high ranking and with top money prizes up for grabs, there were a lot of talented players competing. But there was never a way to compete worldwide," Stawisuck said. "Now, with its growth and popularity, I have the chance to do that"!
Stawisuck will be playing for North America II, wearing a red & white jersey, and will be playing in the Legends Men 45 Division. If you're interested in watching any of the games, they will be live-streamed on the World 4 vs. 4 Ball Hockey Championships YouTube channel as well as on their Facebook page.
Stawisuck's team schedule is as follows:
- November 23rd: vs. Quebec @ 10pm ET
- November 24th: vs. Dominican Republic @ 11am ET
- November 25th: vs. Czechia @ 12pm ET
- November 25th vs. North America I @ 6pm ET
