Meatball Monday

It’s not like attending a Canucks game or even a game of ball hockey played in the street – well it could be with a minor adjustment.

Unicycle hockey is classified as a team sport that is similar to roller or inline hockey, but each player must be mounted on a one wheeled cycle or unicycle.

It is reported that the first recorded game was played in 1925 and was depicted in the Silent film called “Variety.”

This film was directed by Ewald Andre Dupont and stared Emil Jannings who played the role of Boss Huller.

Both feet must be on the pedals in order to play the ball and the team is composed of five players (plus substitutes).

There is however no dedicated goaltender, but normally one player stays back in that position as though he/she is the goalie.

There is a governing body for Unicycle Hockey which is the known as the https://unicycling.org/ that publishes and maintains the rules for all unicycle sports.

Recent there was a set of rules that was published in 2010 for unicycle hockey.

The court/rink that is used varies between 35 and 45 meters long and 20 to 25 meters in width.

It should or is hoped to have either rounded corners with some form of barrier on all sides of the rink.

The nets or goals are also set back a distance from the end walls so that play can go behind them, which is somewhat similar to a game of ice hockey.

Any players stick (legal) that can be used for ice hockey which is allowed to be used, but not goalkeepers

The unicycles can have a maximum wheel diameter of 24 inches (61 cm) and a tennis ball is typically used, although street hockey balls are also permitted.

Ironically, there are four National Unicycle Hockey leagues that I am told of, with no teams listed in either Canada or the United States.

Current leagues registered are located in the UK with 10 registered teams, teams in Germany where there are 53 registered teams, Switzerland has approximately 20 teams and also teams that play in Australia.

Other leagues and clubs are in France, Sweden, Hong Kong, Denmark, Korea and Singapore.

Who ever thought a league of this nature even existed?