Ireland's National Ball Hockey Team? They're 100% Canadian

They wear jerseys emblazoned with the Irish flag and a four-leaf clover. But none of the members of the Ireland men's National Ball Hockey Team are actually Irish citizens. In fact, they're all Canadians -- and most are from Newfoundland. 

Next month, the team will represent Ireland for the first time at the ball hockey World Championships in Pittsburgh.

Ireland's coach (Newfoundlander) Jack Tobin tells As It Happens co-host Carol Off that the World Ball Hockey Federation approved the all-Canadian team, "as long as the players were of Irish decent."

Tobin says, although he's never been to Ireland, he and his team share a lot in common with people from the Emerald Isle. "We like to have a few bubblies, tell a good story, like music, dancing -- and I know a lot of Irish people up here," he says.

Coach Tobin says that if his Irish team ends of facing off against Canada, there will be no divided loyalties.

"If we get the opportunity and we can kick Canada's butt, we'd be more than happy to do that."

The World Ball Hockey Federation Championships will be held May 24 - 31.