GRAND FALLS- WINDSOR, N.L.
To say that Jeremy Bishop has had an exciting few months is a bit of an understatement.
Bishop, 37, who is originally from Grand Falls-Windsor, but had been living in Corner Brook, played in the Canadian National Ball Hockey tournament in August. His skills earned him a place on Team Canada.
Then, in mid-September, the journeyman electrician and his family moved to Ottawa, Ontario, just as a tornado struck the city. The family then moved into their new house, and Bishop flew off to the ISBHF masters championship in Bermuda for the Sept. 27-30 tournament.
The Bermuda tournament included 17 teams, 12 men’s teams and five women’s teams, representing nine countries around the world.
Bishop, who has been playing ball hockey and ice hockey since he was a child, has played at World Championship tournaments before, but he found this one especially enjoyable.
“It was sweeter to be playing in an outdoor setting — in a rink right on the tip of the ocean in Bermuda, playing in 35-40 degree heat,” Bishop said. “It was a surreal experience. Absolutely amazing.”
Team Canada consisted of 23 players from across Canada, who were selected from the teams playing at the Canadian National Championships this summer, plus coaches, therapists and doctors.
Bishop and two of his teammates from N.L., Terry Ryan and Peter Cabral, earned a nickname during the tournament in Bermuda.
“The three of us — Bishop, Ryan, and Cabrel — we were having a good tournament scoring-wise, Bishop said. “The announcer named our line ‘the RBC line’ because every time we were on the floor, the ball was in the net so we were like ‘money in the bank.’”
And the nickname was well-deserved.
“Our line scored three goals in the World Championship, and mine was the World Championship game-winning goal,” Bishop said. “It’s hard to explain the way that feels.
“We won the National Championship together in August in Winnipeg and then, a month later, to win the World Championship. I’ve been playing for over 30 years and then to win both a month apart...I don’t know what to say.”
After the team’s 4-0 gold medal win over another Canadian Team (the Halton Leafs), Bishop was named MVP Forward of the tournament and Ryan was named the overall MVP.
Bishop is grateful for the support of his friends and family, especially his wife Li LLana and his children Makenzy and Cameron.
“I’ve got to thank my wife and kids for bearing with me and for me getting the chance to do this,” Bishop said, “Li LLana usually comes with me to tournaments but this time she bit the bullet and stayed home to get everything in place.”
He is also thankful for the support of his sponsors.
Now, after all the excitement, Bishop is settling into his new home in Ottawa and will resume his usual routine.
“I’m a big sports guy. I place ice and ball hockey, I do year-round cardio, I bike, I play a little softball, and do some jogging, “Bishop said. “I stay busy and I stay fit, so I can be ready for when I get the call.”
