Carman’s Stewart Thiessen is a very accomplished ball hockey player, having recently won an international championship with Team Canada.
“The opportunity to represent Canada is truly an honour,” he said of the tournament, which saw him compete against countries from around the world. “My defence partner and I were matched up against the top players on opposing teams. The responsibility of defending the best players in the world is something I take great pride in.”
The 2023 International Street and Ball Hockey Federation World Masters Championships took place in Buffalo, N.Y., from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3. This was the second time Theissen represented Canada, as last year he was on the squad that travelled to Prague, Czech Republic, and brought home a silver medal.
Team Canada — composed of players selected from across the country, including several former professional ice hockey players — was successful throughout this year’s tournament, coming away with a gold medal after defeating USA in the finals by a 4-3 scoreline in a shootout.
Thiessen’s strong defensive play earned him the title of most valuable player.
“There was an emphasis on strong character, and the group gelled very quickly. Winning gold with such a great group of players and staff is something I will always cherish,” he said.
Before getting into ball hockey, Thiessen was a local ice hockey star.
He grew up in Carman and lived there until moving to Kelowna to play in the Western Hockey League at 16-years-old. He joined the 2004 Kelowna Rockets team that went on to win the Memorial Cup as the champions of junior hockey in Canada.
“It was an amazing opportunity to experience the highest level of junior hockey,” Thiessen said. “I played with multiple professional hockey players, including Shea Weber and Josh Gorges, who both played in the NHL for a long time. Kelowna was a beautiful city in British Columbia’s interior, with great fans and a top-notch organization.”
After junior hockey, Thiessen spent some years playing university hockey for the University of Manitoba Bisons. He transitioned to ball hockey in 2009 and was selected to play with Team Manitoba at the national championships.
The tournament return to Manitoba next August, and Thiessen will be playing and coaching with Team Manitoba at that event. He also hopes to participate in the next world championship, which takes place in 2025.
