(TORONTO, ON. April 10, 2024) The 2024 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team is traveling to St-Louis to compete against Team USA in the fifth International Blind Ice Hockey Series. 

The International Blind Ice Hockey series is a best of 3 series that both Canadian and the American Blind Hockey teams have hosted since the inaugural event in 2018. If Canada wins this best of three series, that would give them their 5^th consecutive win and another gold for our nation’s Blind Hockey athletes.

Team Canada features 20 players and six rookies making their Team Canada debut including the youngest player ever to be named to the team (Dante Giammarioli, age 15 from Edmonton). The team is made up of players from across Canada from Vancouver, BC to St John’s, Newfoundland.

The Para sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes who are blind or partially sighted who have approximately 10% vision or less.  The sport uses an adapted puck that makes noise and is larger than a traditional puck.  Currently only Canada and the USA have national teams, however there are now Blind Ice Hockey programs in England, Finland, Sweden, and Russia with the goal of founding a World Championships for the sport and establishing a pathway to the Paralympics.

“From the returning players to the rookies who are playing for the first time, the energy is going to be unmatched across the board as these are the best Blind Hockey players ever drafted to the Canadian team,” explains GM Luca DeMontis. “All the Blind Hockey players on Team Canada taking part in this year’s International Series have incredible talent and this team is going to take this Para sport to the next level.”

The tournament will be broadcast online, and videos are available on this YouTube Channel. 

More info at our digital program:  https://canadianblindhockey.com/news/digital-program-2024-international-blind-ice-hockey-series/

For more information please visit: www.canadianblindhockey.com

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For player interviews, images and quotes please contact:

Mel Carrey
Canadian Blind Hockey
melcarrey@blindicehockey.com
(416) 526- 8114