Skip to content

VIDEO: Langley hosts hockey tournament for the blind

Organizers hope to have the event included in the Paralympics
19295langley1119blindhockey
Saturday action at the first ever Western Regional Blind Hockey tournament at the Langley Sportsplex.


The first-ever Western Regional Blind Ice Hockey Tournament is underway at the Langley Sportsplex this weekend.

Teams were assembled with players from various communities, so they did not have team names, an organizer explained.

"It's for bragging rights," said Nick Beatty of the International Blind Ice Hockey Federation.

Competitors came from the Vancouver Eclipse Blind Hockey team which has people from across the lower mainland,  the Calgary Seeing Ice Dogs, Edmonton SeeHawks, Toronto Ice Owls, les Hiboux de Montreal, and Washington Wheelers Blind Hockey team

The first match on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. pitted the red and yellow teams against each other. Red won 8-7.

Games were scheduled for 5:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.

The sport is played by athletes whose level of vision ranges from legally blind (10 per cent vision or less)  to completely blind.

It is the first time the federation has staged a regional event in western Canada, part of its campaign to improve the profile of the sport with the ultimate aim of winning recognition from the Paralympics.

 



Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
Read more