Champion Broomball Team Returns to the Ice

Author: Lindsey Whitton
Features Editor

When the broomball team, the FEBS, stepped out onto the ice in front of McCullough for the first time last winter, they were confident in their skills and ready to aggressively face their opposition. The team consisted of six players from the Class of 2003.5: co-captains Todd Falcone and Michael Kirkland, Martin Walsh, Jason Fleishman, Kevin Dougherty and Paul Gruber. All six were serious about competition, serious about winning and serious about broomball.

Middlebury students have played broomball for decades, but it was only recently that a special rink was laid in front of McCullough specifically for the intramural broomball league. Each year the number of teams participating has grown significantly and hundreds of students will compete this winter.

Broomball is played with six players on each side including the goalie. No skates allowed, no hands involved, each player is just equipped with a broom, which is provided by the league, and a helmet, which is required. A relatively small soccer ball is used, and the games are refereed by student volunteers.

The game can be dangerous and players fall very frequently as they run across the slippery ice. The broomball league commissioner, Mary Houde '03, said that she doesn't "have the specifics on how many people go to the emergency room every year" but there are "a lot of bruises."

This winter, broomball will be played on Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m to 10 p.m. under the lights with each game lasting an hour. There are over 40 teams signed up this season with a minimum of six players per team.

Last year there were 33 broomball teams who competed from the beginning of January through February. The FEBS, Freakin' Excellent Broomball Squad, were the only team with uniforms, special tee-shirts with their team name and logo, and perhaps the only team to hold special strategizing sessions between games. "There is a difference between just playing an IM sport and mastering an IM sport," Falcone remarked.

The root of this dedication lies in the intensity of the team's leadership. Kirkland provided the energy, and Falcone supplied the organization necessary for victory. Falcone leaves the team daily voice-mail messages that have been known to last almost ten minutes. The night before big games he makes sure the players are resting. "Todd's a great leader," Gruber commented. "He keeps us whipped."

Houde is also committed to broomball, she is even playing on multiple teams this winter. She is, however, skeptical about the FEBS attitude toward the game. "If there could be cheaters in broomball," Houde remarked, "then I would call the FEBS cheaters. Did you know that they have tryouts and don't let girls on their team?… I actually admire them really. They take it very seriously. It's kind of their J-term course."

Last winter, such seriousness really paid off. Halfway through the season, Fleishman fell ill and was unable to compete. The "Fab. Five" remaining players were forced to play alone until David Kaufmann '03.5 was added to the roster. Despite such trouble in the regular season, however, the FEBS went into the playoffs confidently. They were the only undefeated team in the playoffs up until the last game in a double elimination tournament. The other team, captained by Brad Buchar '03, beat the FEBS in a "one-nothing heartbreak," according to Falcone.

It all came down to the final game, winner takes all. After a scoreless regulation and a scoreless overtime, a shootout was required to decide the 2001 Broomball Champions. Each team chose four players, and the FEBS shot first. Every shot was blocked until Falcone finally scored. Goalie Dougherty blocked the last shot on the FEBS, and the FEBS, after a long season and countless hours of work, won the Broomball Championship. Their prize was a dinner at Mr. Ups.

The team is ready for this season, with all of the players returning except for Walsh, who is now studying at Georgetown University. Tryouts are being held for "one coveted reserve spot," Falcone announced recently. He added,"Negotiations are currently in progress with the athletic department to arrange for Walsh to be flown back when the FEBS make playoffs."

Houde remains unimpressed. "I think they've been training," she said, "doing laps in their sneakers on the ice late at night."

Dougherty, however, was openly confident. "This year's not going to be any different than last," he said, "except for the fact that we have to beat, what is it, 39 teams this season?"