Saanich resident Aidan Kulas has added a world championship to a decades-long ball-hockey career, returning from the Czech Republic as a member of Team Canada’s gold-medal-winning squad at the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) men’s legends (44-plus) World Championship.
Long road from ice to street
The 23-player Canadian roster went undefeated through the condensed tournament schedule, finishing round-robin play with a perfect 6-0 record before defeating host Czechia 4-2 in the semifinal and edging Slovakia 3-2 in the gold-medal game on Aug. 1. Kulas, a defenceman and the only Vancouver Island player on the roster, contributed offensively with four goals and one assist across eight games.
Kulas’s path to the world title traces back to a serious leg injury that curtailed his high-level ice-hockey prospects. After breaking his tibia and fibula while playing midget ‘AAA’ for the Barrie Colts in Ontario, he underwent extensive rehabilitation and pivoted to ball hockey. He moved to Victoria in 1997 and competed in ball hockey through stops in Calgary, Edmonton and Kelowna before returning to Vancouver Island in 2019. That same year he founded the Vancouver Island Ball Hockey League.
Representing Canada as a player marked a new milestone for Kulas; he previously served as an assistant coach for Canada’s men’s masters team that won the world championship in 2023. He was added to the 2026 legends roster as a late inclusion by general manager François Chalut, joining the squad roughly five weeks before the tournament began.
“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 final horn. “It was a long journey to get here, but I am very grateful.”
Team chemistry, tight schedule
The Canadian team navigated a gruelling, condensed schedule, playing eight games in five days. Despite minimal time together before departing, the roster quickly bonded and delivered an unblemished record. Kulas said the achievement holds extra significance given his previous coaching success; winning as a player adds to a rare list of people who have been world champions in both roles.
- Player: Aidan Kulas — Saanich resident, defenceman
- Event: ISBHF men’s legends (44-plus) World Championship
- Team Canada record: undefeated; round-robin 6-0; overall eight games
- Individual statline: 4 goals, 1 assist in 8 games
For Saanich and Vancouver Island ball-hockey players, Kulas’s success amplifies a local thread of sporting leadership: he not only competes at an elite level but has organised and expanded opportunities for the sport regionally. The Vancouver Island Ball Hockey League, founded by Kulas in 2019, has been a focal point for the island’s ball-hockey community.
| Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Round-robin | 6-0 |
| Semifinal vs Czechia | 4-2 |
| Gold-medal game vs Slovakia | 3-2 |
While the world championship is a personal pinnacle for Kulas, it also reflects broader dynamics in West Coast sport: athletes relocating to the region and nurturing community leagues that sustain competitive play long after elite ice careers end. Kulas’s story — from serious injury and rehabilitation to founding a regional league and ultimately wearing the maple leaf as a player and coach — resonates with local clubs, players and organisers who balance growth, access and passion for the game.
As ball hockey continues to grow on Vancouver Island and across Canada, Kulas’s gold medal will be a visible reminder to players in Saanich and beyond that pathways exist from local rinks and driveways to the international podium.
