A local ball hockey player is headed to an international tournament in Buffalo.
Ryan Pietens recently made the Ontario Elite ball hockey team and is now getting ready to head for the World Cup of Nations. The tournament will be held May 29 to June 1 in Buffalo.
"I tried out for Team Canada back in February where I unfortunately did not make it," said Pietens. "Never gave up and Ontario Elite came calling, and three tryouts later, here I am."
Ontario Elite will face some of the top teams in the world at the tournament, and Pietens was surprised when he made the team.
"I was up against a lot of talent, a lot of kids from 18 years and up. You know, you get a lot of young, quick, talented players, and it's surprising to see that talent out there, the amount of talent that is out there," said Pietens.
Pietens added that he's been playing ball hockey since he was a kid.
"I started as a young kid just playing road hockey, never really got into ice hockey, but road hockey really started it. Started playing in church gyms, then we started a team, a bunch of us Chatham guys up in London for the LBHA (London Ball Hockey Association). Ever since then I've been wanting to play on a higher field."
Pietens is currently looking for sponsors to help cover some of the costs of attending the tournament in Buffalo, and another tournament in the fall. He can be reach via email at ryanpietens@gmail.com.