By BEN CAMERON
A PAKENHAM carpenter has left for Sweden to represent the nation in one of the world’s fastest growing sports.
James Parnall is one six floorball players to represent Pakenham Squishees, and the country, at the tenth IFF World Floorball Championshps in Gothenburg, Sweden.
It hasn’t been easy to get there however, with a price tag of about $8000 per player.
“I’ve worked seven days a week for the past few months to get the money up for this trip,” James said.
“But I love it (the sport), and it’s not every day you get to represent your country.”
The 22-year-old came from a sporting background of cricket and soccer, and only played after being asked to fill in for a team mate back in 2009.
“I really enjoyed it from the start,” he said.
“I love the physicality and speed of the sport, the high intensity and body contact, although it’s nothing over the top.
Parnall, Brad King, Gavin and Raymond Staindl, Jeremy Monkcton, and Paul Hogg who play for the Squishees at Cardinia Life, left for on the weekend for Sweden.
For those not familiar with the sport, floorball orginated in Sweden in the 1970s as an alternative to hockey, which is now played in 31 countries and one of the world’s fastest growing sports.
It will be James’ debut for the country, ranked 17th in the world, while the remaining five have all played for the country before.
The team will gather in Finland today for a training camp until 3 December and play two practice matches.
Australia’s first game is against the ninth-ranked Russia on 6 December, followed by games against Canada the following day and Denmark on 9 December.
Floorball is an indoor sport played with four or five field players and one goalie on each team; it is fast-paced, exciting, safe, non-contact sport.
At first glance, it resembles floor hockey or ball hockey but is played with specialised light-weight fibre glass or carbon fibre sticks and rules that promote safety and skill.
