Toronto-based kids media teams might not have been able to escape the late-summer heatwave in the gym last night, but they did put on a good show dodging balls at 2023’s YMA Ball Brawl.

Hosted and organized by the Youth Media Alliance, the annual dodgeball tournament saw 16 teams from Canadian kids companies such as Spin Master, Sinking Ship Entertainment and 9 Story Media battle it out for much-coveted bragging rights—while raising money for YMA scholarships and networking between games.

Spin Master’s The Wrecking Brawlers prevailed in the final match against 9 Story Media’s The Brown Bag Brutes, going well into overtime to score the win. And Epic Story Media ended up in third place.

The YMA also awarded a prize for best team flag and chant, and The Brown Bag Brutes narrowly squeezed out a win (although some might say that the skull-and-crossbones flag and exuberant pirate-themed cheer of Kidscreen’s Jolly Dodgers showed a superior effort).

In all, there were 128 participants in the tournament, and more than 150 attendees in total, says France Martin, executive director of the YMA.

All you pirates in the house
Let me hear you scream and shout!
Jolly Dodgers got the ball
Walk the plank, take the fall!!

– Kidscreen‘s Jolly Dodgers team chant.

Picture courtesy of Kidscreen publisher Jocelyn Christie.