While hockey fans are waiting for the puck to drop on the 2022-23 NHL season, there is more hockey that is being played as we head into December. It's just not on the ice.
The 2022 ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships are set to begin this weekend in the Czech Republic. The best men and women ball hockey players over the age of either 40 or 35 are gearing up to compete the next five days.
It is the first time the tournament has occurred since 2018. The bi-annual tournament did not take place in 2020 due to COVID-19. Canada are the reigning champions in both the men's and women's competition.
MORE: When does the NHL season start?
Here is everything you need to know about the 2022 ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships.
Who is playing in the 2022 ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships?
The ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships are for older ball hockey players. Men's teams consist of players over the age of 40, with three allowed to be at least 37 years old. The women compete with players that are 35 years old and older.
The men's competition has 12 teams competing in the 2022 tournament, while the women's side has six.
2022 ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships standings
The men's tournament is split into two groups of six teams for the round robin, while the women are all in one pool. Each team will play their respective clubs in their pool once during the round robin.
The top four teams in each pool advance to the playoffs to play in the quarterfinals for the men. The top four teams advance to the semifinals for the women.
Men's
| Team | Games | Record (W-OTW-OTL-L) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Czech Republic | 3 | 3-0-0-0 | 9 |
| Canada | 3 | 3-0-0-0 | 9 |
| Central Bohemia | 3 | 2-0-0-1 | 6 |
| Old Boys Slovakia | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 |
| Austria | 4 | 1-0-0-3 | 3 |
| USA United | 4 | 0-0-0-4 | 0 |
| Team | Games | Record (W-OTW-OTL-L) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | 4 | 4-0-0-0 | 12 |
| Czech Republic | 4 | 2-1-0-1 | 8 |
| Canada Saskatchewan | 3 | 2-0-0-1 | 6 |
| USA | 4 | 2-0-0-2 | 6 |
| Greece | 3 | 0-0-1-2 | 1 |
| Great Britain | 4 | 0-0-0-4 | 0 |
Women's
| Team | Games | Record (W-OTW-OTL-L) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 3 | 3-0-0-0 | 9 |
| USA | 3 | 2-0-0-1 | 6 |
| Czech Republic | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 |
| Slovakia | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 |
| USA United | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 |
Where are the 2022 ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships?
- Cities: Kladno & Nove Straseci, Czech Republic
This year's tournament is being held in the Czech Republic, with the competition split up between Kladno and Nove Straseci.
Group A on the men's side will play its games in Kladno, while half of the women's games will be in the city. The other half will be in Nove Straseci, in addition to the teams in Group B for the men's competition. The two locations will split the quarterfinals, while Kladno will host the semifinals and medal games.
This is the second time the ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships will be hosted in the Czech Republic and first time it will feature the women's competition.
How to watch the 2022 ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships
- TV Channel: N/A
- Live stream: TVCOM.cz
None of the games are available to watch on TV. However, they can be streamed through the Czech Republic's site, TVCOM.
When is the 2022 ISBHF Ball Hockey World Masters Championships?
- Start: Wednesday, Sept. 7
- End: Sunday, Sept. 11
The tournament begins on Wednesday, Sept. 7 with the start of group play. That will run until Friday, Sept. 9, the same day as the quarterfinals.
The semifinals will be on Saturday, Sept. 10 and the medal games will take place on Sunday, Sept. 11.
You can find the full schedule of the tournament here.
