Broomball Coming to Erie This Weekend

The Pittsburgh Broomball Club will host its Mid-Atlantic Broomball Tournament at ERIEBANK Sports Park Nov. 2-3. It is the first time that the tournament will be hosted in Erie.

Tournament directors expect a minimum of 12 teams and nearly 150 players to participate in the event. Men’s and women’s teams will compete from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, Indiana and Ohio.

Broomball is a winter sport played on ice with rules similar to hockey that incorporates soccer strategies. It is played on a hockey rink with two teams aiming to score the most goals. Players use a stick with a molded head to maneuver a ball up and down the ice to score goals. Instead of skates, players wear spongy-soled shoes to gain traction.

The Pittsburgh Broomball Club was formed in 2015 to promote the sport of broomball in Western Pennsylvania. The club has previously hosted the USA Broomball National Championship, as well as several Mid-Atlantic Tournaments. This will be the first time the club operates a tournament in Erie.

“This is an amazing opportunity for us to expand the reach of broomball,” said Tyler McGuigan a member of the Pittsburgh Broomball Club board of directors. “Broomball is a great sport and will hopefully grow in the area with leagues and intramural teams.”

“Our mission is to add to the sports landscape in Erie, and this tournament will do exactly that,” said Mark Jeanneret, CSEE, executive director of the Erie Sports Commission. “We are glad the Pittsburgh Broomball Club has chosen to host a tournament and expand their reach in the Erie region, and we’re hopeful that we’ll have more opportunities to work together in the future.”

For more information, visit www.pittsburghbroomball.org.

The Erie Sports Commission is committed to promoting the Erie region as a prime destination for sports and recreation. The major goals of the ESC are to attract, create, support, and host sporting and recreational events that have a positive economic impact on the region, and assist in maximizing the potential of all regional sports facilities and venues. The ESC strives to enhance the image of Erie by showcasing the community, promote wellness through healthy lifestyles, and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages.