The National Ball Hockey League season in Bermuda is wrapping up with champions matches this weekend.

Played over two weekends at Pembroke Community Club, the league fixtures are being used to determine one team to represent Bermuda at the NBHL Tier 2 Championship in Philadelphia, set for September 19 to 21.

The development marks a milestone for local ball hockey. After competing as part of the South Philly division last year, where they made it to the top ten of a 14-team tournament, Bermuda now boasts its own stand-alone Tier 2 league, with a champion who will qualify directly from the island to the showcase event in the United States.

Anthony Sanrocoo, commissioner of the NBHL, described the expansion to Bermuda as crucial for the growth of ball hockey.

“We’re thrilled to add a Bermuda division to the NBHL this year,” Sanrocoo said.

“The level of hockey there is outstanding and the players and organisers have been incredible to work with.

“Expanding into Bermuda is an important step in our mission to grow the game and provide teams from across the world and beyond the chance to compete on a larger stage.

“All four teams have looked awesome, so we’re excited to see who takes it all and joins us at the NBHL Championships in September.”

With the regular season almost complete in Bermuda, Sunken Harbor Soca Kings are the class of the division. Unbeaten and boasting the league’s most potent attack and miserly defence, Kings enter the championship weekend as clear favourites.

Chasing them are three different challengers, Offshore Rum Runners, Mid-Atlantic Snipers and the underdog Front Street Marlins, whose record may understate their threat in a play-off format.

The Kings attack is led by two of the league’s most dangerous forwards, Robbie Bailey and Jeremy Estey.

Bailey is the division’s top scorer with nine goals and averaging more than three points per game.

Estey is the playmaking engine for Kings. His nine assists in only three games give him the best points-per-game mark in the division (3.33).