Saanich ball hockey player wins world championship with Team Canada

Saanich ball hockey player wins world championship with Team Canada

Published 11:10 am Tuesday, August 11, 2026

A 33-year journey through ball hockey has landed Saanich resident Aidan Kulas at the top of the world.

Kulas returned from the Czech Republic as a world champion after helping Team Canada capture gold at the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) men’s legends (44-plus) World Championship.

The 23-player Canadian roster went undefeated through the tournament, finishing round-robin play with a perfect 6-0 record before defeating host Czechia 4-2 in the semifinal. Canada then slipped past Slovakia 3-2 in the gold medal game to claim the title on Aug. 1.

Kulas, a defenceman, was the only player from Vancouver Island selected to the national squad. He made his presence felt offensively, scoring four goals and adding an assist over eight games.

The championship is the ultimate payoff for Kulas, who pivoted to ball hockey after a serious leg injury cut his high-level ice hockey career short.

“I think the first thing I thought about was, I’ve done it, and no one can ever take this away from me,” Kulas said of the moment the final horn sounded. “It was a long journey to get here, but I am very grateful.”

He grew up in Ontario and played midget ‘AAA’ for the Barrie Colts before breaking his tibia and fibula. After extensive rehabilitation, he turned to ball hockey and quickly fell in love with the sport.

He moved to Victoria in 1997 and continued playing competitively through stops in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kelowna. He returned to the Island in 2019, the same year he founded the Vancouver Island Ball Hockey League.

While he previously served as an assistant coach for Canada’s men’s master’s team, who won the World Championship in 2023, representing his country as a player was a new honour.

“I don’t know for certain how many have done it, but it is a short list of people who have won a World Championship as a coach and player,” Kulas said. “However many are on it, I am very proud to be a part of it.”

General manager François Chalut named him as a late addition to the roster just five weeks before the tournament.

The Canadian team quickly bonded despite having no prior practices together.

They faced a gruelling, condensed schedule of eight games in five days. Kulas endured the longest journey of any Canadian player, navigating a 10-hour flight to Munich and another hop to Prague, bringing heavy jet lag.

Players also battled an intense European heat wave with temperatures soaring to 38 C.

“At the end of every game, I could have squeezed out my jersey, my shorts, and you would have ended up with a small pool,” Kulas said.

The post-game celebration included immediate FaceTime calls to his parents, who streamed the final, and his girlfriend, who he credits as his biggest supporter. He noted that because a large portion of ball hockey is self-funded, having a strong support system is vital.

The Canadian players linked arms and sang O Canada together, surrounded by the flags of the participating nations.

“You’re linked in with all what I call my ball hockey brothers that have battled at the highest level for five days straight,” Kulas said. “That’s when you realize you not only do it for you, not only for your teammates, but for your country.”

Canada’s victory marks its second consecutive ISBHF men’s legends title, following a 2024 win in Edmonton.

The next tournament takes place in 2028, and Kulas already has his sights set on another opportunity to wear the maple leaf.

“After winning a world championship, you definitely want more,” he said.