Paralympians in Port
Canada’s sledge hockey team will name its 17 players who will pursue the country’s second Paralympic gold medal following its final training camp and a home- and- home series with the U. S. team in Port Colborne this week.
“This is an exciting time for us as we are in the final training stage ahead of the Paralympics,” head coach Ken Babey said in a news release.
The 2018 Winter Paralympics will be held in Pyeong-Chang, South Korea, March 9 to 18.
“All 20 players on our national team have shown their commitment and dedication through this process. They have been focused on their training regime, putting us in the best possible shape to represent our country and bring home a gold medal,” said Babey.
The team practising at Vale Health and Wellness Centre Monday morning has 17 players on it who won gold at the April 2017 IPC World Para Hockey Championship in Gangneung, South Korea.
It will hold a series of open practices throughout the week and two games against the American team, one in Buffalo and the other in Port Colborne.
“The city is thrilled to be hosting Team Canada for their training camp and game as they prepare for the Paralympics,” said Port Colborne CAO Scott Luey.
He said Team Canada heard about Vale Centre through the city’s connection with Christina Picton, the instructor for the city’s Learn to Sledge Program, and the women’s national team development camp that was hosted at the facility.
“Marshall Starkman from Team Canada reached out to Bryan Theal, our event and seasonal sports coordinator, just over six months ago to co- ordinate the training camp and game,” Luey said.
When Vale Centre was built, Rink 2 was designed to accommodate sledge hockey. In 2015 the city applied for and received an Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund grant to kickstart the development of a sledge hockey program.
The city said with news of Team Canada’s arrival and the upcoming game with the U. S. to be played on Rink 1, staff retrofit it to accommodate it with Lexan in the players’ benches for viewing, in addition to artificial ice.
“Rinks 1 and 2 are now fully-accessible for sledge hockey,” said Michelle Cuthbert, the city’s corporate communications officer.
Cuthbert encourages everyone to come out and watch Team Canada as they practice throughout the week.
“It’s amazing … watching these players from the national team that will represent Canada in PyeongChang.”
She said Saturday’s game against the U. S. is free and open to the public. It starts at 3: 30 p. m., two days after Team Canada plays the Americans at Harbor Center in Buffalo, N. Y.
Open practices at Rink 1 take place 10 a. m to 11: 30 a. m. on Tuesday, and from 3 p. m. to 4: 30 p. m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Vale Centre is at 550 Elizabeth St.