TORONTO, ON – Canadian Blind Hockey has named the 2024 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team which features 20 players representing seven different provinces spanning the country from Vancouver, BC to St John’s, Newfoundland. Following an emotional and inspiring awards ceremony at the 10th annual Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament, team officials are thrilled to welcome players to what they believe to be the best Canadian Blind Hockey team ever assembled – including six rookies who will wear the maple leaf for the first time. The team will compete versus Team USA in three weeks at the 2024 International Blind Ice Hockey Series in St. Louis from April 12 to 14. Canada will be looking to earn its fourth consecutive championship and defend their title against Team USA. All games will be broadcast live for free on YouTube.

Players competed in a three game National Team Select Series during the milestone tournament this past weekend which produced some of the fastest and most exciting Blind Hockey ever played. Management and coaches ultimately choses the 20 players who performed the best out of a very strong National Team pool to represent Canada on the international stage.

“Today we witnessed dreams come true as players were named to our nation’s Blind Hockey team to represent Canada at the international level,” explains GM Luca DeMontis. “From the returning players to the rookies we announced today, the work ethic is unmatched across the board. All the Blind Hockey players who took part in the Select Series have incredible talent and this team is going to take this Para sport to the next level.”

The Para sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes who are blind or partially sighted using an adapted puck that is larger than a traditional puck and makes noise. At the international level players must be classified under the same system used in the Paralympics and have 10% vision or less. The Para sport is played in 13 cities across Canada as well as the USA, England, Finland, Sweden and Russia. Currently only Canada and the USA have national teams however Canadian Blind Hockey is working with international partners to grow the game with the hopes of establishing a World Championship and creating a pathway to the Paralympics.

“There is a bit of a changing of the guard and a youth movement underway with this year’s team” said head Coach Paul Kerins. “The six rookies are all in their early 20’s except for Dante Giammarioli who’s set a record as the youngest player to ever make National Team at only 15 years old. This sport and this team just keeps getting faster and better and I’m looking forward to coaching this group in St-Louis.”

The 2024 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team roster includes:
Player # Classification Hometown

Conrad Eder 67 B3 Ottawa, ON
Dante Giammarioli 71 B3 Edmonton, AB
Tristan Lindberg 27 B3 Edmonton, AB
Chaz Misuraca 16 B3 Stratford, ON
Liam O’Callaghan 6 B3 Edmonton, AB
Thomas Raymond 58 B3 Sainte-Julie, QC
Kelly Serbu 22 B3 Cole Harbor, NS
Jonathan Trzop 66 B3 Moncton, NB
Jason Yuha 91 B3 Rosalind, AB
Nik Bullick 8 B2 London, ON
Joseph Del Grande 5 B2 Toronto, ON
Mark DeMontis 9 B2 Weston, ON
Sean Heaslip 51 B3 Vancouver, BC
Bruno Haché 35 B2 Montreal, QC
Brandon Joy 7 B2 Conception Bay South, NL
Amanda Provan 13 B2 Sudbury, ON
Simon Richard 19 B2 Moncton, NB

Joey Cabral 33 B1 Toronto, ON
Oliver Pye 31 B1 Dartmouth, NS
Gary Steeves 1 B1 Vancouver, BC
Coaches /Management
Paul Kerins Head Coach Weston, ON
Joe McCallion Assistant Coach Toronto, ON
Jeff Street Assistant Coach Toronto, ON
Joey Ali Goalie Coach Surrey, BC
Luca DeMontis GM Toronto, ON
Francois Beauregard Assistant GM Saint-Hubert, QC
Mark Bentz Therapist Vancouver, BC

Canadian Blind Hockey is a charity that runs life changing Blind Hockey programming coast-to-coast for children, youth and adults who are blind or partially sighted. Our programs and events are made possible thanks to our generous donors and sponsors the CNIB Foundation, AMI, The Daniel Family Foundation, Electra Health, and Manion.

For more information, and to arrange interviews please contact Canadian Blind Hockey’s Marketing and
Communications Manager Mel Carrey at melcarrey@blindicehockey.com