TORONTO, March 13, 2024 – Canadian Blind Hockey is celebrating 10 years of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Toronto from March 22 – 24, 2024. The annual tournament is a catalyst for growing the Para sport of Blind Hockey across Canada and around the world, and organizers are preparing to host over 200 players and coaches coming to play in over 20 games across 6 different divisions at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
“This is a momentous year for all of us in the Blind Hockey community as we celebrate 10 years of the largest Blind Hockey Tournament in the world”, reflects Executive Director Matt Morrow. “This tournament had only 45 players in its inaugural year in 2013 who all basically came from three teams – the local Toronto Ice Owls, Les Hiboux de Montreal, and the Vancouver Eclipse. Now, thanks to the incredible growth in Blind Hockey that is partially due to the creation of this tournament, for the first time we will have players from all 10 Canadian provinces as well as players from the United Stated, Finland and the UK.”
Kicking off the anniversary event, the tournament will host game 1 of a best-of-three National Team Select Series where the best Blind Hockey players in the country will be competing to earn on a spot on the 2024 Canadian National Blind Hockey ahead of the International Ice Hockey series in St-Louis where Canada will compete vs Team USA from April 12 – 14, 2024. Over 1500 elementary and post-secondary students from across the TDSB and the TCDSB are expected to attend to witness the best Canadian Blind Hockey players go head-to-head.
Canadian Blind Hockey is hosting a Celebrity Showcase game Friday, March 22 featuring players and alumni across the NHL and other leagues and featuring the first ten players named to the 2024 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team! A Women’s Showcase game will also precede the Celebrity Showcase game, giving spectators must watch back-to-back games on a Friday night.
Other marquee events leading up to this National Tournament include the 3rd annual Girls and Women’s Blind Hockey Summit and the Children & Youth Multi-Sport camp which are both happening on Thursday, March 21.
Luca DeMontis, Canadian Blind Hockey’s Program Manager and GM of the National Team reflects on the growth of Blind Hockey over the past decade: “I’ve been at this Tournament since day one and I continue to see the level of competition and passion grow. The youth participating in our programs are motivated because the competition gets higher and higher each year,” explains Luca DeMontis. “We now have 15 Blind Hockey programs for children, youth and adults across Canada and there’s opportunity for all skill levels to play. We’re inspiring youth to try our nation’s game while instilling confidence in youth & adults who are blind or partially sighted. It’s incredibly rewarding.”
The event take place at the Mattamy Athletic Centre – the former Maple Leaf Gardens – and is free and open to the public to attend and will be streamed live on the Canadian Blind Hockey YouTube Channel. Full event tournament and schedule available here at canadianblindhockey.com.
2024 CANADIAN NATIONAL BLIND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE FRIDAY MARCH 22
9:15 am – 10:30 am LOW VISION & DEVELOPMENT
10:30 am – 11:30 am CHILDREN
11:30 am – 1:30 pm SELECT DIVISION: CANADA BLACK vs CANADA YELLOW
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm YOUTH
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm OPEN: HABS vs CANUCKS
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm OPEN: SENS vs LEAFS
5:30 pm – 6:45 pm WOMEN’S BLIND HOCKEY SHOWCASE GAME
6:45 pm – 8:00 pm CELEBRITY BLIND HOCKEY SHOWCASE GAME
SATURDAY MARCH 23
9:00 am – 10:30 am OPEN: HABS vs SENS
10:30 am – 12:00 pm OPEN: CANUCKS vs LEAFS
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm LOW VISION & DEVELOPMENT
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm CHILDREN
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm YOUTH
3:15 pm – 4:45 pm SELECT DIVISION: CANADA BLACK vs CANADA YELLOW
4:45 pm – 6:15 pm OPEN: HABS vs LEAFS
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm OPEN: CANUCKS vs SENS
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BANQUET
SUNDAY MARCH 24
8:00 am – 9:00 am CHILDREN
9:00 am – 10:00 am YOUTH
10:00 am – 11:15 am LOW VISION & DEVELOPMENT
11:15 pm – 12:45 pm OPEN DIVISION: BRONZE MEDAL GAME
12:45 pm – 2:15 pm OPEN DIVISION: GOLD MEDAL GAME
2:15 pm – 3:45 pm SELECT DIVISION: CANADA BLACK vs CANADA YELLOW
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm AWARDS CEREMONY & 2024 TEAM CANADA ANNOUNCEMENT
About Canadian Blind Hockey:
Canadian Blind Hockey is a charity that changes the lives of children, and youth who are blind or partially sighted by providing Blind Hockey programming including introductory try-it sessions, development camps, regional and national competitions, and by supporting the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team.
The Para sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes whose level of vision ranges from legally blind – which is approximately 10% vision – to completely blind, using an adapted puck that makes noise and is bigger than a traditional puck.
Location:
Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens
50 Carleton St. Toronto, ON, M5B 1J2
For interview requests please contact:
Melanie Carrey
melcarrey@blindicehockey.com
416-526-8114