Among the most accomplished competitors in the growing legacy of USA Ball Hockey, the majesty of the 2024 ISBHF World Championships in Visp, Switzerland affirmed Becky Dobson as one of the program’s greats. Contributing towards an unprecedented gold medal triumph, it marked a proud pinnacle for the highly skilled forward.
Following a highly disappointing outcome at the 2022 ISBHF Worlds, from the US not earning a medal, to the shocking exclusion of Dobson from the roster, the path to gold proved well worth the wait. Finishing as the second leading scorer for the US, Dobson, also a CrossFit competitor and fitness coach, shone brilliantly, years of sweat and sacrifice bringing well-deserved results.
Of note, the medal round in 2024 saw the US, led by head coach Jennifer Wilson, face-off versus some highly familiar rivals. From the defending World Champion Canadian contingent in the semi-finals, to perennial contender Czechia in the final, both matches provided plenty of emotion. Rebounding from a visceral loss in the preliminary round to Canada, resilient in a 2-1 semi-final win, Dobson recounts how she believed the roster was capable of winning gold.
“The semi-finals OT win against Canada was amazing! Our 2-0 loss during the prelim games was the exact wakeup call we needed. We were much better prepared for that semi-final rematch and we knew if we played our game, we would win.
I was excited for the gold medal game vs. Czech. I have actually had confidence in this team and gold since the very beginning of this journey, following tryouts when our team roster was first named. I knew we had a very strong roster with some new names and a new head coach. I genuinely thought Gold was ours to lose.”
Equally essential in preparing for the ISBHF World Championships involved a pair of tournaments stateside. From the Chiclets Cup at Buffalo River Works in October 2023, along with Cool Hockey Events hosting a North American Ball Hockey Championship in Pottstown, PA during March 2024, both were truly team-building events.
“We also played in a few tournaments in the Coed division (as an all-women’s team) leading up to prepare for the Worlds. We won the Coed B division at the North American championships in March 2024. Therefore, that was when I really knew we had something special with this team!”
That special feeling reached its peak in the gold medal game. Blanking Czechia by a 3-0 mark, with Brooke Wolejko earning the shutout, Dobson rose to the occasion. Recording a pair of assists, the performance encompassed a significant sense of motivation.
Dobson’s previous experiences in the medal round for the US involved a pair of silver medal finishes in 2017 and 2019. Considering that several of Dobson’s teammates had also worn the Stars and Stripes in those heartbreaking matches, a third silver was certainly not acceptable.
Undeniably, Dobson’s efforts proved critical in gaining the golden result, including an assist on the game-winning goal, scored by Emma Seitz. As a side note, Dobson also scored a goal versus Czechia in the preliminary round, a 3-2 win that definitely made a statement.
With eight members of the US recording at least one point versus Czechia in the final, the dominant performance left a lasting impression on a gracious Dobson. Although proud of her role in the 3-0 shutout win, the recollections hold a focus on the bigger picture, impressed by the collaboration of talent and desire.
“It was definitely one of my top memorable performances, but not for the individual stats. It was more because we finally reached the ultimate goal.
My two previous Worlds experiences resulted in gold medal game losses. So, I knew and felt how bad we wanted this win. We had SO much depth on this team, that we could put anyone out on the court and be a threat to the opposition. I think we had 15 different goal scorers at Worlds – which speaks volumes to the strong team we had.”
With the gold medal an exceptional highlight on Dobson’s distinguished hockey resume, it brings a sense of closure to a five year long wait. Although the silver medals of 2017 and 2019 established the US as a world-class team, another opportunity for gold proved elusive. As pandemic concerns pushed the next Worlds to 2022, a tournament that saw the US struggle, several veteran stars felt the window of opportunity closing, resulting in a very understandable feeling of now or never.
Returning to the national team provided Dobson with a feeling of homecoming and inspiration. As the appointment of Wilson as head coach helped to positively reshape the culture, Dobson was spurred to prove that she belonged. Although the motivation proved as an essential theme for Dobson, referring to the journey back as a “revenge tour”, the hard-earned road to success takes on a new meaning.
As the majesty of 2024 represents an extraordinary feat, marking the first gold medal at the ISBHF Worlds for USA Ball Hockey (in 2022, the US women captured gold at the Masters), it is a pinnacle that Dobson proudly shares with her teammates. All playing with purpose, the desire to win growing stronger with each game, inching closer to an elusive gold, the results brought with it a flood of emotion, elevating Dobson to a new era as champion.
“AMAZING. PROUD. RELIEF. WORTH COMING BACK. I was left off the 2022 USA roster that competed in Montreal due to a head coach (who is no longer with the program) that was not a fan of me. Therefore, returning to the 2024 Worlds, I had a lot to prove and to play for. I did not want to take anything for granted.
Often, I referenced this 2024 journey as my “revenge tour”. After beating Canada for the first time in program history and losing the 2017 gold medal game in overtime to Czech, followed by losing the 2019 gold medal game to Canada, I was not returning in 2024 for another silver medal.
In my mind, it was gold or bust. This team was such a special group to be a part of. Every single member played for one another and worked towards the same common goal. We had SO much fun doing so. It felt special and meant to be, a perfect storybook ending for me.”
“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
Images supplied by Becky Dobson
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