History of Bandy 
How did Bandy become what it is today?
Bandy was created and established in England during the late nineteenth century as a desired gentleman's sporting event. Introduced to Sweden in 1894 Bandy quickly spread through Scandinavian and Eastern European Countries overnight. With over a dozen professional European leagues and tournaments Bandy has become one of Europe's premier sports which is governed by the FIB (Fedrarion of International Bandy).
Canada Bandy was introduced twenty-five years ago to a handful of Manitoban's and since then the program has grown to house the current silver medalist for the World Championship "B" side. Bandy has found it's home in Winnipeg where the program continues to grow and gain interest.
Bandy is considered the fastest game on ice played on a surface equivalent to a soccer field; it is the sport from which hockey was derived. Each team is made up of seventeen players with 11 on-ice skaters per side, including goalkeeper. The game is played with a short curved stick and a corked ball with a rubber exterior. During the 90 minute match (two 45 min halves) the ball can travel distances of 360 feet at speeds in excess of 100mph. The goal measures seven by eleven, slightly smaller than a soccer net, similar to soccer the goalie is not equipped with a stick but rather uses his/her hands for ball control.
