Grenier bringing dodgeball league to SEC

Nick Grenier is hoping to turn dodgeball into the region’s biggest new sport.

The Ile des Chenes resident owns Dodgeball Winnipeg. The organization is setting up a rec league inside Southeast Event Centre this year, with signups underway.

“The goal is not to be competing at the highest level, it’s another activity people can play with their friends and get some exercise in,” he said.

“Over the winter months, when it gets cold and there’s less to do outside it’s a good opportunity to get some exercise indoors with some friends and play a game we used to play in gym class and everyone always enjoyed.”

Grenier was sure to add the league will have foam balls, with the league providing everything a participant would need aside from gym shoes.

“It’s really affordable, low cost to join and a low committment to join, it’s only a nine-week season,” Grenier said.

“You don’t have to feel like you’re committing to a full year, you’re just committing to three months.”

The Steinbach-based league will be a recreation league, but the sky is the limit for potential athletes. Grenier began playing dodgeball after he was recruited by some friends and took his talents from the baseball diamond into the gym, where he’s found massive success.

“I fell in love with the adreline you get when you make a catch or make a big hit,” Grenier said.

“It really grew on me, so I started playing a little more competitively.”

He’s won provincial championships and even worn the Maple Leaf for Team Canada at international events.

Grenier said the league in Steinbach could be the first step to establishing dodgeball as a proper sport in Manitoba. If the league in Steinbach goes well, dodgeball leagues could be popping up across the province.

“In order for us to get funding from Sport Manitoba, we need to have a league in three different cities,” Grenier said.

“Right now they don’t view us as a sport, they view us as a hobby essentially.”

Registration is available at DodgeballWinnipeg.com, with a separate signup button for the Steinbach league.