There's no ice needed for this game - the Totem Hockey League is all about a gym floor.
Squamish's new ball hockey league has five teams with 10 players each. The Thunder, the Bombers, the Powers, the Lighting and a new North Vancouver team play four on four (plus a goalie). The league uses National Hockey League rules, and it's bringing out fans of the game.
"It's awesome," said Troy Wilton, who plays for the Thunder. "We're diehards. We used to play the game in the snow.
"Gotta do something when there is no NHL."
Austin Chandler, who developed the league schedule, agreed not having the NHL this year sparked more interest in the ball hockey league. But the rumbling for a ball hockey league in Squamish started in the fall among athletes who played drop-in ball hockey.
"Then it just happened in January," Chandler said. "It's something to do."
The Thunder is at the top spot, with three wins, zero losses. The Lighting 0-3, the Bombers and Powers are 2-1, and the North Vancouver team (who joined a week after the league started) is 0-2.
"Everyone wants to beat us," Wilton said. "Everyone cheers against us."
"There all pretty good teams," Chandler said. "It's just a matter of chemistry."
There are three games every Tuesday night. They start at 7:30 p.m., 8:20 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. and they draw a crowd, sometimes of around 50 people. And the league, made up primarily of Squamish Nation members, could just keep growing.
"I'm sure it will get up to 15 teams," said Shane Cockell, also a Thunder player.
"We can only see it getting bigger," Chandler said, adding there are 16- and 17-year-olds who want to play.
One of the league organizers, Greg Joseph, is tracking down MVP trophies, and a trophy for the playoff has been donated. Sennen Joseph also organized the league.
