This year was as good as ever.  While most of Canada plays their hockey in arenas and backyard rinks, Vancouver plays their hockey in the streets and Play On really epitomizes this.  From watching the skill of the tykes, to the intensity of the Elite division, it was all hockey,and all fun.

Special thanks to Angela Ling for all the photos!

Here’s us wearing the prized blue T-shirts, they are only handed out to the winning teams.  Not pictured in the photo are Jas and Ranbir.

Click for more highlights!

The newest addition to the team this year, my Roundhouse Sunday hockey buddy Ashley Stephenson, who scored a hat trick in the finals.  This is what happens when you leave the girl open……

This was my line, Erynn, myself and Simon.  Although we’re on the sidelines, on the court it we weren’t much different, Simon and Erynn watching the game…me…..talking.

Simon…. gratuitous triceps shot.  Simon was our energy guy, non friggin’ stop.

Dr. Jas, breaking out!

24 hours later I bumped into this girl at Fujiya….that’s Vancouver.  $10 says she’s related to me by marriage.

The Ranbir and Jas show!

Day two bonus photo, Mark Donnelly running!  Much better than me singing….

When really I wanted to hug him….and the game hadn’t even started yet….

More celebrity high fives!

The atmosphere at Metrotown is surreal as street hockey has taken over.  The parking lots are full of courts, and everyone is walking around the mall with hockey sticks, pretty sure I saw some kid stick handling in Sears.

This is our team!  We’re off to a great start, qualifying first.  We start today where we left off last year, in the quarter finals, hopefully there will be redemption!  Comparatively, we have it so much easier than some of the other divisions, this is our schedule, this is their’s, it’s some March Madness type stuff.   Come cheer us on at 3:20 and with luck, and running our asses off, 5:20 in the finals.

Not a bad looking bunch…..

Bonus photo:  This is from the celebrity game and really was worth the trip of coming out to Play On.  You know this guy right?  He’s one of the many ‘voices of the Vancouver Canucks’, well, after opening the game with the singing of the national anthem.

He played…..

Today I bring you Ranbir Dulai!

We haven’t really been keeping score, but I’m going to guess Ranbir leads our team in points in previous tournaments.  Him and Jas are like Daniel and Henrik out there, eyes in the back of their head type stuff.  Ranbir’s got a posse too, while my wife Sue Choy has little interest in my juvenile past times, Ranbir’s known to show up with ten family members.  Now that’s support….

Hey!  We’re playing right now!  Come down and see us at metrotown!

Today I bring you Jas Gill!

Jas along with his buddy Ranbir are the best one two punch our team has.  He’s a dentist by trade which isn’t surprising when you see some of the plays he makes.  In my coed league, I’ve seen him score four goals in half a game, then take off to his kids birthday party, while we defend…..

Come cheer us on, and check out the festivities tomorrow at Metrotown!

Suddenly….this guy is your best friend.

It’s magic…..

Sure this was taken after the goal…but it could have been taken after an icing call…..Fans were having fun!

Yo Bob K….sorry I missed your text but I’m trying to buck the current Vancouver stereotype fan tweeting away in the lower bowl.

Looks like PJ though is thinking….’When in Rome…’

It’s gonna be funnn……..

Today I bring you Erynn Tomlinson!

The secret weapon on all our teams has been the girls, Erynn has been one of the best.  Light hands, heavy elbows, she’ll be playing with me and Simon in the role of power forward.  She logged alot of the highlights in last years heartbreaking final.

You have to sign up by midnight June 8th, so make sure you don’t miss out.  There’s a division for everyone, whether you played junior or never left the cul-de-sac, guys, girls, young, old…..  This could be the only thing that can cure your hockey fever!

Today I bring you Tim Stump!

photo Angela Ling

Tim’s a cool cat.  You have to be a bit crazy to play in net, so VIA is terribly lucky to a goalie like Tim who quietly stops everything.  No masks thrown….no crossbars broken.  Tim, like Simon comes with the support of his better half, Tara, who made up a big part of the team VIA cheering section.

There’s only a few days left to sign up, so make sure you don’t miss out.  There’s a division for everyone, whether you played junior or never left the cul-de-sac.  This could be the only thing that can cure your hockey fever!

Today I bring you Simon Lam!

photo Angela Ling

Simon’s a ball hockey fanatic, there isn’t a game in town he hasn’t played.  He also runs the ball hockey league at EA.  On the court, Simon is Mighty Mouse, when he gets the ball, he’s gone, and just when you wonder where the heck he’s going with it, he cuts to the net and scores.  Simon also comes in tandem with his main squeeze Angela, who’s shot all the great hockey photos in years past, and designed this year’s hockey card!  She’s a huge part of the team VIA!

So…are you signing up?  Make sure you get your team in by June 8th!