Monday, May 26, 2025

An Epic Hockey Road Trip for Local 52 Member Ryan Vowles

The steward and beer league hockey player joined Team Canada for a European tournament last February

A LIFE-LONG LOVE OF HOCKEY led Ryan Vowles to an unexpected perk earlier this year—a 12-day trip to Europe.

Ryan is a journeyman electrician who has been with Leduc Electrical Services Ltd. in Kingston, Ontario, since 2012. In his spare time, he hits the ice regularly in a local “beer league” as a forward.

Late last year, he and three of his teammates were asked to help fill out a team from Sarnia, Ontario, for the Euro Tour 2025 hockey tournament, which was held in February. As someone who has been playing the game since he was seven years old, Ryan was thrilled to join the team and make his first trip to Europe.

“We played three games—one each in Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy,” says Ryan, 41. “It was a great experience wearing that Canadian jersey and representing our country.”

The tournament was a friendship games of sorts, where the emphasis was on fun and camaraderie rather than winning. The European teams and spectators all gave a warm welcome to the Canadians, says Ryan.

“We were throwing pucks and some Team Canada swag up into the stands,” he says. “They loved it and ate it right up.”

About 1,000 fans came out to watch their game in Fanano, Italy (near Florence), a town with an entire population of less than 3,000 people.

“They had a bit of a party for us,” says Ryan. “At intermission, they did chuck-a-puck, and there were little tykes playing on the ice. After the game, there were sandwiches made up right on site with local meats and breads, and we got to try a couple of local beers. We felt like superstars there.”

It was a similarly cordial experience in Budapest, Hungary, where the Canadians played their first game of the tournament.

“We had a great reception by their team,” says Ryan. “They were making sure our skates were sharpened and that we had enough water. And that game was our first and only win. We got to hang out with the team after the game and have a few beers.”

THE CANADIANS FELT A LITTLE intimidated in their game in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where they squared off against a team with several former Olympic athletes on the roster.

“We had players on our team that were 25 years old, but we also had players all the way up to age 70,” says Ryan. “So, we lost that game, but it was a pretty cool experience to play against them. I think they took it a bit easy on us—which was fine.”

A highlight of the tournament was exchanging gifts and souvenirs with the other teams.

“At the beginning of each game, we would have a ceremony where we would trade,” says Ryan. “We had pucks that we gave them that were hollowed out into coasters with the Euro Tour logo on them. I came home with a scarf from one of the teams and some Slovenia hockey flags.”

Ryan, a long-time Local 52 steward, also made sure to bring some CLAC swag along.

“I had some CLAC towels that I gave to members of the other teams,” he says. “In Fanano, I tossed some CLAC hats over the boards to the kids who were watching.”

Leduc Electric pitched in too, making a sponsorship donation that helped cover some of Ryan’s costs.

ONE UNEXPECTED PLEASURE OF THE tournament was meeting some Canadians who are playing professional hockey in Europe.

“In Slovenia, we got to go watch a pro game between the Slovenian team and Austria,” says Ryan. “A lot of the players were North American.

“We met some Ontario players there who were from Belleville, Whitby, and Sarnia. They came over and hung out with us in the dressing room before we took the ice, I guess because they don’t often see other Canadian players. That was nice for them.”

Playing three games in 12 days meant the Canadian team got to do a lot of sight-seeing in their host countries.

“The rest of the trip was filled with different adventures,” says Ryan. “Everything was amazing there. If we weren’t going into caves or visiting castles, we were doing city tours.

“All the tours were optional, but I think most of us went on all of them. I’m sure we only saw a fraction of what’s there. There’s just so many castles in these different cities and villages in Europe.”

Ryan got to share the adventure with his fiancée, Ashley, because spouses were welcome to come along. The two will be married in June 2026. As a registered physiotherapist, Ashley was an immense help to the players before and after games.

“She was there if someone really needed her,” says Ryan.

After broadening his horizons in Europe, Ryan says he would love to return.

“This was my first time, but this was actually the 10th time this tournament was held,” he says. “They do it every two years and typically go to different countries each time.”

Early planning for 2027 has already started.

“I know it’s a long way off, but I’m definitely hoping to go.”

Beer Leagues Boast Big Numbers

Like thousands of other adults, Ryan Vowles has never stopped playing hockey. After spending his youth in rep leagues, he transitioned to a recreational team—aka the beer leagues.

Ryan lives and plays north of Kingston in Inverary, Ontario, one of countless communities that has a bustling beer league. Across Canada and the US, almost 175,000 players regularly hit the ice for low-stakes games that foster camaraderie over competition and generally end with all the players enjoying a couple of beers in the dressing room after the game.

Beer leagues have long been governed by an unofficial set of rules designed to keep things fun and friendly.

10 Rules of Etiquette for Beer League Hockey

Don’t be a jerk. This is the main rule that sets the tone for all the rest.
No fighting. Throwing a punch will get you thrown out of the game.
Take short shifts. It keeps you fresh and gives everyone else a chance to play.
Move the puck. This is a team sport, not a solo exhibition.
Don’t cherry pick. Follow the puck and help with defense.
Respect the refs. Their word is law. Arguing will probably land you in the penalty box.
Be punctual. If you show up at the last minute, your team may have set the lines without you.
Don’t be a no-show. Let your team know if you won’t be there so they can find a sub.
Pay your hockey fees on time. If you don’t pay, you don’t play.
Bring beer. After all, it’s how the league got its name.

Sources: blpa.com, The Hockey News, TravelHockeyClub.com

Slovenia—An Undiscovered Jewel

Slovenia was a highlight of the Euro Tour 2025 tournament for Ryan Vowles. He admits he knew little about the country before visiting in February. That’s understandable, since Slovenia only gained its independence in 1991, with the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia. Here are some more interesting facts about this young nation.

5 Slovenia Fast Facts

It is world renowned for its extensive systems of limestone caves, with almost 8,000 in total. The Škocjan Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring six kilometres of subterranean passages, as well as numerous sinkholes and waterfalls.
Beekeeping is extremely popular throughout the country, with more than 200,000 colonies kept by Slovenians. World Bee Day, which is celebrated annually on May 20, originated in Slovenia.
It has one of the world’s largest populations of brown bears. Nearly 60 percent of Slovenia is forested, making it an ideal habitat for the animals.
The country’s Alpine area is a world-class location for ski jumping. It is home to one of the world’s largest jumps, the Letalnic bratov Gorišek in Planica, which is the traditional venue for the Ski Jumping World Cup.
It is considered one of the cleanest countries in the world, thanks to robust environmental policies ensuring biodiversity protection, clean air, and clean water. It is also a world leader in sustainable tourism.

Sources: factsinstitute.com, timesofindia.com

An Epic Hockey Road Trip for Local 52 Member Ryan Vowles

Beer Leagues Boast Big Numbers

Slovenia—An Undiscovered Jewel

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