The sport of ball hockey/street hockey was truly blessed to have had a person of Frank's caliber and dedication to the game. He pioneered the sport in the Montreal suburbs of Point St. Charles in 1971 by organizing teams and leagues at the local YMCA. His enthusiasm for the game developed this humble beginning into an area wide sport that has touched thousands of players since its inception. The gymnasium in which he started now proudly bears his name and the Frank Napieracz Memorial gymnasium was dedicated to his memory in June of 1999.

Frank organized the Montreal Flames into a competitive team that traveled to the Internationals for 21 straight years and the CanAm several times. He was the heart and soul of the Flames, a true team leader and a quality player. In his career, he won 12 Most Valuable Player Awards and 17 Most Valuable Defenseman Awards. At the tournament level, Frank was a great player who commanded respect for his skills as well as his leadership.

Frank Napieracz passed away on February 4, 1998 while playing Ball Hockey, the game he loved, in the gymnasium that now bears his name. He will be sorely missed but long remembered by all those who knew him as an organizer, player, competitor and friend.