The final roster for the Team Greece ball hockey crew is complete, and players will be in the Czech Republic from June 13 - 20 to participate in the 2009 world ball hockey championships. Team Greece, which includes many players from Montreal, is part of the International Street Ball Hockey Federation. The organization holds an international tournament every two years, with 16 countries attending, Team Greece being one of them. Ball hockey in Greece In order to play on Team Greece, you have to be a Greek citizen. For the past year, the Montreal-based Hellenic Ball Hockey Association has been in charge of the program. Among the changes the association has implemented, it has established a ball hockey league in Greece, and conducted ball hockey training camps in Toronto and in Montreal, where players of Greek origin come to try out. Although often associated with street hockey, an informal game played by youths which is familiar to almost anyone who lives in Canada, ball hockey is an organized version of the sport which has a following among men in their 20s, 30s and 40s. While Greece, with its high summer temperatures, isn't necessarily the most fitting environment in which to establish ball hockey as a sport, organizers here of Greek origin wanted their country to be represented internationally and took measures to help potential participants formalize their Greek citizenship. Sport's popular in Europe Just like their Greek counterparts, other players from Canada with roots in Portugal, Italy, Pakistan, India and other countries are also taking part. "The most popular countries for ball hockey in Europe are the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Austria — countries that essentially also play ice hockey," says John Kontitsis, vice-president of the HBHA. While this international ball hockey tournament has existed for around the past 15 years, this year's will be only the third, since they don't take place annually. Compared to ice hockey, which requires considerable skating skill, ball hockey is easier, but requires stamina and running skills. "It's much cheaper," says Kontitsis, noting that there is less required equipment. Players in his league must have a helmet, padded gloves, shin guards, and protective eyewear optionally. "The problem with ball hockey is it's a very, very tough sport to play, because unlike hockey, where you're gliding a lot, you always have to keep moving, you've always got to run," he says. "You have to be in terrific to play." Ice hockey connection According to Kontitsis, many professional ice hockey players play ball hockey on the side to maintain their skills and to keep in shape. One of the best ball hockey players to come out of Canada is Alex Burrows, who is now playing ice hockey for the Vancouver Canucks. Before making it the NHL, Burrows established a reputation as a prolific ball hockey player, playing in annual national and international tournaments during hockey's off-season. Most recently, he led Canada's national ball hockey team to a world championship in 2005, and led his Montreal-based team, the Red Lites, to a national championship in 2006. Team Greece, in addition to their involvement in the world ball hockey championship, will be competing here later this year in the Montreal Cup. A total of 10 elite teams will be participating in the Montreal Cup championship, which is always held in Montreal.