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WPH Icebreaker History of Champions: 2020-2025 Icebreaker Series

WPH Press, Tucson, AZ

Icebreaker History of Champions (2020-2025)

WPH Press –

The WPH created the Icebreaker 3-Wall pro tour Championship to “break the ice” during the pandemic, allowing the best handball players in the world to compete and showcase their talents to the world. The Icebreaker tour has attracted virtually all of the best players from across the world, providing riveting theatre for the WPH’s worldwide audience.

Icebreaker History of Champions and Finalists (2020-2025)

Icebreaker #1 – March 2020: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 7-15, 15-10, 15-4

Icebreaker #2 – September 2020: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-4, 21-6

Icebreaker #3 – November 2020: Dylan Hernandez (CA) def Erik Torres (CA) 21-12, 21-11

*Icebreaker #4 – January 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Stephen Cooney (IRE) 21-2, 21-10 *non-ranking event

*Icebreaker #5 – January 2021: Leo Canales, Jr. (TX) def Sam Esser (AZ) 21-6, 21-19 *non-ranking event

*Icebreaker #6 – February 2021: Ashley Moler (AZ) def Mikaila Mitchell (AZ) 21-0, 21-16 *non-ranking event

Icebreaker #7 – February 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-11, 21-14

Icebreaker #8 – March 2021, Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 4-15, 15-10, 15-13

Icebreaker #9 – April 2021 Killian Carroll (MA) def Sean Lenning (AZ) 16-14, 15-10

Icebreaker #10 – May 2021 Ashley Ruiz (AZ) def Tracy Davis 21-14, 21-4 (CA) – Abraham Montijo (AZ) def Adam Bernhard (TX) 21-13, 21-2

Icebreaker #11 – May 2021

Big Ball Singles: Alfredo Morales (CA) def Josue Tellez (CA) 15-4, 15-6

Big Ball Doubles: Alfredo Morales (CA)/Boxer Rosales (ID) def Josue Tellez (CA)/Darryl Garcia (CA) 21-9

Icebreaker #12 – July 2021: Killian Carroll (MA) def Daniel Cordova (TX) 16-14, 15-3

Icebreaker Ice Bowl #13 – August 2021

Killian Carroll (MA) def Daniel Cordova (TX) 21-11, 21-9

Danielle Daskalakis (NY) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 17-21, 21-15, 11-2

Icebreaker #14 (Big Ball) – September 2021: Brian Medina (CA) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 15-4, 15-9

Race 4 Eight Icebreaker #15 – December 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Luis Cordova (MEX) inj. fft.

Icebreaker #16 (Small Ball Doubles) – March 2022: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX) def S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ) 15-4, 15-1

Icebreaker #17 – July 2022

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Sam Esser (AZ) 15-4, 15-0

Big Ball Singles: Brian Medina (CA) def Lucho Cordova (MEX) 15-9, 15-9

Icebreaker #18 – August 2022:

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 15-7, 15-2

Big Ball Singles: Brian Medina (CA) def Samzon Hernandez (CA) 12-15, 15-4, 15-12

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 15-5, 15-6

Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) def Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) 15-4, 15-9

Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #19 – September 2022

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Danos Cordova (MEX) 15-6, 15-6

Ashley Ruiz (AZ) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 15-8, 15-3

Big Ball Singles: Oscar Siordia (CA) def Chava Cordova (CA) 15-9, 6-15, 15-14

Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) 15-12, 15-2

Big Ball Pro Doubles: Chava Cordova (CA)/Antonio Chavez (CA) def Alberto Pizano (CA)/Anthony Hernandez (CA) 15-14, 15-7

Big Ball B Doubles: Javier Flores (CA)/Beni Gonzalez (CA) def Fernando Zapata (CA)/Julio Perez (CA) 15-8, 15-12

Icebreaker #20 (R48 Icebreaker #2) – December 2022

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 21-16, 21-8

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 21-7, 15-21, 11-4

Icebreaker #21 (USHA National 3-Wall Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles)

(Small Ball Doubles) – March 2023: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX) def S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ) 21-16, 21-12

Icebreaker #22 (Clarkbreaker II) – July 2023

David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-11, 21-2

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 14-21, 21-16, 11-9

Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) 15-11, 15-4

Icebreaker #24 (Ice Bowl II) – August 2023

Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-3, 21-4

Big Ball Singles: Anthony “Chopper” Hernandez (CA) def Alberto Pizano (AZ) 12-10, 10-12, 12-5

Big Ball Doubles: Anthony “Chopper” Hernandez (CA)/Alberto Pizano (AZ) def Brian Medina (CA)/Gilberto Rosales (ID) 12-8, 11-12, 12-10

Junior Singles: Kelvin Lindsey (AZ) def Johnny Lindsey (AZ) 11-6, 11-5

A Singles: Ayden Brule (AZ) def Jose Maldonado (AZ) 21-17, 20-21, 11-2

Icebreaker #24 (R48 Icebreaker #3) – December 2023

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 21-6, 21-6

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 16-21, 21-2, 11-1

Icebreaker #25 (Julybreaker) – July 2024

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Leo Canales (AZ) 16-14, 15-13

Icebreaker #26 (Ice Bowl) – August 2024

Leo Canales (AZ) def Sam Esser (AZ) 15-7, 15-13

Danielle Daskalakis (CA) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 15-1, 15-13

Big Ball Singles: Oscar Siordia, Jr. (CA) def Chava Cordova (CA) 15-8, 15-10

Big Ball Doubles: Lucho/Danos Cordova def Samzon Hernandez/Bozer Rosales 15-12, 15-12

Big Ball B Doubles: Rafa Avila/Sam Cruz def Andres Cordova/Moses Gardea 15-12, 9-15, 15-12

Icebreaker #27 (Turkeybreaker) – November 2024

David Fink (AZ) def Ivan Burgos (AZ) 21-7, 21-3

Icebreaker #28 (R48 Icebreaker) – December 2024

David Fink (AZ) def Danos Cordova (TX) 19-21, 21-17, 11-8

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 18-21, 21-5, 11-3

Big Ball Singles: Samzon Hernandez (CA) def Alfredo Morales (CA) 6-15, 15-14, 15-8

Big Ball Doubles: Alberto Pizano/Anthony Hernandez def Sal Duenas/Chava Cordova 15-4, 15-7

Big Ball B Doubles: Beto Gomez/Nathan Orozco def Andres Cordova/Moses Gardea 13-15, 15-14, 15-6

Icebreaker #29 (La Grange Icebreaker) – July 2025

Ray Ure (IL) def Lucho (TX) 21-10, 21-5

Small Ball Doubles: Ray Ure/Jab Bike def Lucho/Danos 21-18, 21-3

Icebreaker #30 (Ice Bowl) – August 2025

Shorty Ruiz (AZ) def Lucho Cordova (TX) 21-1, 21-19

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 15-6, 15-3

Big Ball Singles: Oscar Siordia (CA) def Samzon Hernandez (CA) 15-10, 15-4

Big Ball Doubles: Oscar Siordia (CA)/Samzon Hernandez (CA) def Anthony Hernandez (CA)/Eddie Rocha (CA) 15-11, 15-13

Big Ball Doubles: Andres Cordova (MEX)/Moses Gardea (MEX) def Abraham Montijo (AZ)/Ayden Brule (AZ) 15-9, 15-11

Icebreaker Finishes by Event

Men’s Small Ball Icebreakers

2020

Icebreaker #1 (8-man event): March 2020

1st: Fink (AZ)

2nd: Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: Canales (TX), Montijo (AZ)

Icebreaker #2 (4-man event): September 2020

1st: Fink (AZ)

2nd: Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: Montijo (AZ)

4th: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

Icebreaker #3 (4-man event): November 2020

1st: D. Hernandez (CA)

2nd: E. Torres (CA)

3rd: R. Palma (CA)

4th: L. Collado (CA) (no matches won)

*Icebreaker #4 (2-man event): December 2020

1st: Fink (AZ)

2nd: Cooney (CA) (no matches won)

*non-ranking event

 2021

*Icebreaker #5 (2-man event): February 2021

1st: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)

2nd: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

*non-ranking event

Icebreaker #6 (4-man event): March 2021

1st: Fink (AZ)

2nd: Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)

4th: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

Icebreaker #7 (8-man event): April 2021

1st: K. Carroll (MA)

2nd: S. Lenning (AZ)

3rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)

5th: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)

6th: Montijo (AZ)

7th: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Hernandez (CA) – neither won a match

Icebreaker #8 (4-man event): April 2021

1st: Montijo (AZ)

2nd: A. Bernhard (TX)

3rd: M. Langmack (MO)

4th: N. Mattioni (FL) (no matches won)

Icebreaker #9 (12-man event): June 2021

1st: Carroll (MA)

2nd: D. Cordova (TX)

3rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)

Icebreaker #10 (16-man event): August 2021

1st: Carroll (MA)

2nd: D. Cordova (TX)

3rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)

Race 4 Eight Icebreaker #11: December 2021

1st: Fink (AZ)

2nd: L. Cordova (MEX)

3rd: Ruiz (AZ), Canales (AZ)

2022

Icebreaker #1: July 2022

Small Ball Pro Singles

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: Esser (AZ)

3rd: Ruiz (AZ)/Torres (CA)

Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2022

Small Ball Pro Singles

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: D. Fink (AZ)

3rd: B. Bidegain (CA)/L. Canales (AZ)

Icebreaker #3 (Clarkbreaker): September 2022

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: D. Cordova (MEX)

3rd: B. Bidegain (CA)/A. Montijo (AZ)

Icebreaker #4 (R48 Icebreaker): December 2022

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: D. Fink (AZ)

3rd: Mulkerrins (IRE)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2023

Icebreaker #1 (Clarkbreaker): July 2023

Small Ball Pro Singles

1st: D. Fink (AZ)

2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: Canales (AZ)/L. Cordova (MEX)

Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2023

1st: D. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: Fink (AZ)/L. Cordova (MEX)

Icebreaker #3 (R48 Icebreaker): December 2023

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: Fink (AZ)

3rd: Lenning (WA)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2024

Icebreaker #1 (Julybreaker): July 2024

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: L. Canales (AZ)

3rd: D. Cordova (MEX)/S. Esser (AZ)

Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2024

1st: L. Canales (AZ)

2nd: S. Esser (AZ)

3rd: D. Cordova (MEX)/L. Cordova (MEX)

Icebreaker #3 (Turkeybreaker): November 2024

1st: D. Fink (AZ)

2nd: I. Burgos (AZ)

3rd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/A. Pizano (AZ)

Icebreaker #4 (R48 Icebreaker): December 2024

1st: D. Fink (AZ)

2nd: D. Cordova (TX)

3rd: L. Cordova (MEX)/L. Canales (AZ)

2025

Icebreaker #1 (La Grange Icebreaker): July 2025

1st: R. Ure (IL)

2nd: Lucho (TX)

3rd: Fink (AZ)/Bike (CA)

Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2025

1st: S. Ruiz (AZ)

2nd: L. Cordova (TX)

3rd: Fink (AZ)/Bike (CA)

Women’s Icebreakers

2021

*Women’s Icebreaker #1 (2-woman event): January 2021

1st: A. Ruiz (AZ)

2nd: M. Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

*non-ranking event

Women’s Icebreaker #2 (4-woman event): April 2021

1st: M. Esser (AZ)

2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: D. Daskalakis (NY)

4th: T. Davis (CA) (no matches won)

Women’s Icebreaker #3 (4-woman event): April 2021

1st: A. Ruiz (AZ)

2nd: T. Davis (CA)

3rd: M. Esser (AZ)

4th: Ciana Ni Churraoin (TX) (no matches won)

Women’s Icebreaker #4 (6-woman event): August 2021

1st: D. Daskalakis (NY)

2nd: M. Esser (AZ)

3rd: T. Davis (CA)

4th: A. Ruiz (AZ)

2022

Women’s Icebreaker #5 (6-woman event): August 2022

1st: M. Esser (AZ)

2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: A. Tuohey (WI)

4th: T. Davis (CA)

*Women’s Icebreaker #6 (Clarkbreaker) (3-woman event): September 2022

1st: A. Ruiz

2nd: M. Esser

*Non-ranking event

Women’s Icebreaker #7 (4-woman event): December 2022

1st: M. Esser (AZ)

2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: B. Camacho (AZ)

2023

Women’s Icebreaker #8 (3-woman event): July 2023

1st: M. Esser (AZ)

2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: B. Camacho (AZ)

Women’s Icebreaker #9 (3-woman event): December 2023

1st: M. Esser (AZ)

2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: Munroe (IRE)

2024

Women’s Icebreaker #10 (6-woman event): August 2024

1st: D. Daskalakis (CA)

2nd: M. Esser (AZ)

3rd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

Women’s Icebreaker #11 (4-woman event): December 2024

1st: M. Esser (AZ)

2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: A. Peters (IL)

2025

Women’s Icebreaker #12 (5-woman event): August 2025

1st: M. Esser (AZ)

2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: B. Camacho (AZ)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreakers

2021

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #1: June 2021

1st: A. Morales (CA)

2nd: J. Tellez (CA)

3rd: Gonzalez (NY)

4th: Ruiz (AZ)

Doubles

1st: Morales (CA)/Rosales (ID)

2nd: Tellez (CA)/D. Garcia (CA)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #2: September 2021

1st: B. Medina (CA)

2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)

3rd: Chavez (TX)

4th: Gonzalez (NY)

2022

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #3: July 2022

1st: B. Medina (CA)

2nd: L. Cordova (MEX)

3rd: Pizano (AZ)

4th: Ruiz (AZ)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #4: August 2022

1st: B. Medina (CA)

2nd: S. Hernandez (CA)

3rd: O. Siordia (CA)/C. Cordova (CA)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #5: September 2022

1st: O. Siordia (CA)

2nd: C. Cordova (CA)

3rd: S. Hernandez (CA)/J. Vicencio (CA)

2023

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #6: August 2023

1st: A. Hernandez (CA)

2nd: A. Pizano (AZ)

3rd: G. Rosales (ID)/I. Chapa (CA)

2024

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #7: August 2024

1st: O. Siordia (CA)

2nd: C. Cordova (CA)

3rd: A. Pizano (AZ)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (R48 Icebreaker) #8: December 2024

1st: S. Hernandez (CA)

2nd: A. Morales (CA)

3rd:  E. Rocha (CA)/C. Cordova (CA)

2025

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #9: August 2025

1st: O. Siordia (CA)

2nd: S. Hernandez (CA)

3rd: A. Hernandez (CA)/A. Morales (CA)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreakers

2022

Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker #1: March 2022

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker #2: August 2022

1st: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

2nd: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #3: September 2022

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreakers

2023

Icebreaker Pro Doubles w/ USHA Masters Nationals: March 2023

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Clarkbreaker Pro Doubles: July 2023

1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreakers

2025

Icebreaker Pro Doubles at La Grange:

1st: R. Ure (IL)/J. Bike (CA)

2nd: Lucho (TX)/Danos (TX)

Big Ball Doubles Icebreakers

2022

Big Ball Icebreaker #1 (Clarkbreaker): September 2022

Pro

1st: C. Cordova (CA)/A. Chavez (CA)

2nd: A. Pizano (AZ)/A. Hernandez (CA)

B

1st: J. Flores (CA)/B. Gonzalez (CA)

2nd: F. Zapata (CA)/J. Perez (CA)

2023

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #2: August 2023

Pro

1st: A. Hernandez (CA)/A. Pizano (AZ)

2nd: G. Rosales (ID)/B. Medina (CA)

2024

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #3: August 2024

Pro

1st: Team Cordova (MEX)

2nd: G. Rosales (CA)/S. Hernandez (CA)

B

1st: R. Avila (CA)/S. Cruz (CA)

2nd: A. Cordova (MEX)/M. Gardea (NM)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (R48 Icebreaker) #4: December 2024

Pro

1st: 1st: A. Hernandez (CA)/A. Pizano (AZ)

2nd: S. Duenas (CA)/C. Cordova (CA)

B

1st: B. Gomez (CA)/N. Orozco (CA)

2nd: A. Cordova (MEX)/M. Gardea (NM)

2025

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #4: August 2025

Pro

1st: O. Siordia (CA)/S. Hernandez (CA)

2nd: A. Hernandez (CA)/E. Rocha (CA)

B

1st: A. Cordova (MEX)/M. Gardea (NM)

2nd: A. Montijo (AZ)/A. Brule (AZ)

 

Icebreaker Contenders (Qualifiers)

2021

Small Ball Contenders #1 (April 2021): Contender champion: Max Langmack (KS)

Small Ball Contenders #2 (May 2021): Contenders: Danny Perez (AZ) (champion)/John Chapman (CO) (finalist)

*both Perez and Chapman qualified

Big Ball Icebreaker Contenders #1 (May 2021): Contender champion: David Fink (AZ)

Small Ball Contenders #3 (June 2021): Contenders champion: Dylan Key (AZ)

Small Ball Contenders #4 (August 2021): Contenders: Victor Sanchez (TX), Armando Ibarra (CO), Leo Canales, Sr. (TX)

 

*All events are small ball unless otherwise indicated

*Non-ranking event means that only two players entered, thus not qualifying as an official Icebreaker title

David Fink

Icebreaker Senior Statistician 

DV: David Vincent formed the World Players of Handball in 2005 and ushered live handball viewing into our living rooms for the first time. Since its inception, the World Players of Handball has broadcast over 1,500 matches live. Dave Vincent serves as the lead play-by-play announcer for virtually all matches, combining his unique perspective and personality with a lifetime of handball experience. DV brings 25 years of broadcast radio experience (in Oregon and California) to World Players of Handball & ESPN broadcasts and provides professionalism and wit to the amazing game of handball. DV also serves as the Executive Director of the World Player of Handball at the WPH headquarters in Tucson, AZ, working daily to grow the game of handball through innovation.
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