Winter is coming.

Don’t hate it, use it.

Play broomball.

What is broomball?

Do you like ice hockey? Then you’ll like broom ball. It’s the same basic rules, tactics and strategy, but in special shoes instead of skates. The stick is a “broom” and the puck is a ball about the size of a grapefruit. The league makes all those available to first time players. Helmets too.

Half-ice pickup event at St. James near Alexandria

Interested in the playing, but not sure you are ready for a whole season? On Thanksgiving Saturday, the St. James near Alexandria is hosting a half-ice pickup tournament.

The St. James 2024 Turkey Tumble Broom Hockey Tournament presented by District Broomball.

Join Us for a Beginner-Friendly Broom Hockey Mini Tournament!

Looking for a fun, unique way to spend your Thanksgiving weekend? Come join us for a Beginner-Friendly Broom Hockey Mini Tournament on Saturday, November 30th from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Whether you’ve played before or are brand new to the game, this event is designed for all skill levels!

· Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024

· Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

· Location: The St. James Ice House

· Cost: $40 per participant

· Equipment: All equipment is provided except for helmets. Participants must bring their own helmet (bike or hockey helmets are acceptable).

It’s a great way to start working off the gluttony of Thanksgiving!

St. James Location

The St. James is located in Springfield, Va. a few miles west of Alexandria off of EXIT 3B of Interstate 395.

Join DC’s Broomball league

Now through December 1, you can sign up for the Winter 2024-2025 District Broomball season. Starting Tuesday, December 4, District Broomball plays weekly through February 4, 2025 with byes December 24 and 31. That’s two months of Tuesday nights on the ice.

Tuesday night games breaks the week up really nicely.

It’s a four-team league with games at 9:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. at Tucker Road Ice Rink. Take a quick nap after work – I do.

The league is 18 and over with men and women welcome. It’s a social league, so it’s competitive but historically free of redasses. Everybody wants to win though we’re here for a good time more than anything.

I have been playing in the league since 2018, though I was introduced to the sports in REDACTED at Penn State. Since I found the league, I’ve played about a dozen seasons. One season, I averaged a goal a game – if I can do that, so can you.

Details

• Schedule: Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. beginning Dceember 4, 2024
• Cost: $120 for returning players, $90 for first timers – that’s a 25% discount!

Tucker Road Location

Tucker Road Ice Rink, reopened in 2021, is located just minutes from the Capital Beltway (I-95/495) and the Wilson Bridge. Parking is plentiful and car pools are often available.

Cover photograph courtesy of Alex Fletcher