For the first time, BC Hockey is offering a Para Hockey Evaluation Camp as part of the new Para Program of Excellence that was recently established. The camp will be used to identify players for the Provincial and Development Teams that will compete at tournaments in Alberta in Spring 2020. Additional camps will be held in January and March 2020.
Players of any gender, age and ability can take part in BC Hockey's para hockey program.
The tentative schedule for the 2019 - 2020 season is:
Evaluation Camp - November 2 - 3, 2019 - Surrey, BC
Development/Team BC Camp - January 2020 - TBA
Development/Team BC Camp - March 2020 - TBA
Matt Cook Memorial Tournament - March 27 - 29, 2019 - Calgary, AB (Development Team)
Team BC Camp - May 2020 - TBA
National Para Hockey Championship - May 15 - 19, 2020 - Leduc, AB (Team BC)
The camp fee is $55 and includes three (3) ice times led by Team Canada member, James Gemmell (Quesnel).
Gemmell brings many years of para hockey experience, including many years on Team Canada, which included gold at the 2013 IPC World Men's Championship and a bronze and a silver at the 2014 and 2018 Paralympic Winter Games respectively.
If players are unable to attend the November camp, they can attend the January camp to stay in consideration for the Provincial and Development Teams. Participants would be required to pay the November camp fee, in addition to the January camp fee ($55 each, $110 total).
Para Hockey (also known as sledge hockey) is an innovative team sport that incorporates that same rules and strategies as 'stand-up' ice hockey. Players sit on specially designed sleds with skate blades under the seat and use (2) sticks to pass, stick handle, shoot, propel and maneuver their sleds.
For more information on Para Hockey and the Para Hockey Program of Excellence, please visit the
web page
or email parahockey@bchockey.net.
