The first weekend of June finds teams from all over Australia make the trip to the New South Wales central coast area just north of Sydney. This years Broomball Australia Nationals were held in a new location just north of Sydney at the Ice rink in Erina. Each member association sent teams to contest the championships along with three canadians (two as officials and the third invited to play) who made the trip down under to also be a part of this four day broomball fest.
The first three days held the mens and ladies competition and the last day of competition was set aside for the mixed division as well as a the presentation banquet.
Winners and runners up
Each division was keenly contested and as the competition came to it’s conclusion the finals saw the best teams face off.
Mens Intermediate division was between NSW 1 and the team from the ACT with the NSW 1 team taking out the trophy.
The Mixed Intermediate division final was between the local team (and put together for the event ) The Central Coast Thunder and NSW 1. The Thunder went undefeated in the division and won the final.
Mixed Elite – the final was between NSW and the ACT with the team from NSW coming out the winners.
Womens Elite – ACT defeated the ladies from NSW
Men’s Elite division – The final was a demonstration of skill and fast paced broomball. These two teams gave a demonstration of the high standard that broomball has attained in Australia. NSW 1 defeated ACT.
The Sunday evening was set aside for the presentation dinner where the awards were handed out.
Awards for top points:
Men’s Elite: Three way tie – Jose Rameriz, Ben Boyde & Julian Luco all from ACT
Ladies Elite: Alicia Martin – ACT
Mixed Elite: Julian Luco (men’s award)- QLD and Jay Jae (ladies award) – SA
Intermediate Men’s – two way tie – Bryn Shepherd & Josh Burton both from team NSW 1
Intermediate Mixed: Ben Irmish – NSW 1, and a three way tie for the following ladies: Jenna Roberts – ACT, Christine Filsell – SA and Catherine McDonald – NSW1.
MVP Awards
Men’s Elite: Saxon Hooper – NSW
Ladies Elite: Alicia Martin – ACT
Mixed Elite: Kim Shapley – SA (mens award) & Kirsty Martin – ACT (ladies award)
Men’s Intermediate: Josh Burton – NSW1
Intermediate Mixed: Jarrad Ferrar NSW1 (mens award) & Rosie Buttonshaw – Central Coast Thunder (ladies award)
Broomball Australia 2015 All Star Teams
To wind up the presentation and celebrate the 2015 event the Broomball Australia President then announced the 2015 Broomball Australia All Star Teams;
2015 Mens All Star Team: Goalie – James Kristoff (NSW), Defence – Dave Lamond (ACT), Defence Bryce Marshall (ACT), Forward – John Thomas (SA), Froward – Julian Luco (ACT), Centre – Saxon Hooper (NSW)
2015 Ladies All Star Team: Goalie – Kate Livingstone Thomas (NSW2), Defence – Kate Irvine (SA), Defence – Jodie Harrison (NSW1), Forward – Alicia Martin (ACT), Forward – Shannon Spillane (QLD), Centre – Lauren Yabsley (NSW1)
2015 Elite Mixed All Star Team: Goalie – Linda Jeffrey (ACT), Defence – Kim Shapley (SA), Defence – Anke Vermeulen (NSW1), Forward – Kirsty Martin (ACT), Forward – Peter Yabsley (NSW1), Centre – Jeff Ferrara (NSW1)
One footnote that deserves a mention is that Linda Jeffrey (goalie for ACT) had eleven shutouts in a row and only let in two goals in the whole tournament. Truly remarkable and the first time this has ever happened at the national level.
