Blind hockey team faces off in Stayner
Stayner Community Centre hosted an exhibition game of blind hockey Saturday afternoon, featuring a matchup between players and goaltenders who are fully blind.
The game featured more than 20 male and female players ranging from 16 to 85 years old from the Toronto Ice Owls, a hockey program for the visually impaired. Their mission was to make it known to the hundreds in attendance that people with visual impairments can still play Canada’s game.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
“People are going to be blown away by how well some [of the players] can play this game,” said Randy Banks, a player for the Toronto Ice Owls. “There’s still a lot of people out there who don’t know about it so were trying to promote it to get children and youth that are visually impaired or blind into Canada’s game and get back onto the ice.”
The main adaptations are a larger puck with metal ball bearings rattling inside it and nets that are three feet tall instead of four feet tall.
Each team also had one sighted player who could only pass and was not allowed to score. They would have to make at least one pass after crossing the blueline and entering the opposing zone. Once that pass was completed, the referee on the ice would blow a high-pitched whistle, permitting the offensive team to attempt a shot on goal.
“We’re here because we love the game of hockey. Some of us grew up playing hockey and lost our eyesight due accidents or medical conditions, quite often had a big, long break and thought that we’d never play hockey again,” said David Brown, a goaltender for the Toronto Ice Owls. “With those adaptations, a lot of us have been able to play the game again that we love.”
The exhibition game was also a fundraiser with the goal of raising $10,000 to support Clearview Minor Hockey. Various memoriabilia got auctioned off in a silent auction.
The Ice Owls play every Sunday in Scarborough and are hoping to grow enough to be able support multiple teams.
The blind hockey season runs from the beginning of October until the end of March, ending with an international tournament that sees around 200 blind hockey players from various countries competing for a world title.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease
An 81-year-old Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his wife with Alzheimer's disease.
Pat King found guilty of mischief for role in 'Freedom Convoy'
Pat King, one of the most prominent figures of the 2022 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa, has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order.
Canada's tax relief plan: Who gets a cheque?
The Canadian government has unveiled its plans for a sweeping GST/HST pause on select items during the holiday period. The day after the announcement, questions remain on how the whole thing will work.
Canada issues travel warning after 6 people die from tainted alcohol in Laos
The Canadian government is warning travellers following the deaths of at least six people in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists in Laos after drinking tainted alcohol.
BREAKING Jury convicts men of human smuggling in case of frozen migrant family in Manitoba
A jury has found two men guilty on all charges related to human smuggling in a case where a family from India froze to death in Manitoba while trying to walk across the Canada-U. S. border.
Canada's new income tax brackets in 2025: What you need to know
The Canada Revenue Agency has released updated federal income tax brackets for 2025, reflecting adjustments for inflation. Here’s the breakdown.
Measles outbreak: Canada sees highest number of cases in past nine years
Thirty new measles cases were reported this week in Canada, bringing the total number in Canada to 130 in 2024.
Unruly passenger duct-taped after trying to open a plane's door mid-flight
An assertive group of cross-country travellers pinned and duct-taped an unruly passenger mid-flight, after he allegedly tried to open a plane door at 30,000 feet.
Matt Gaetz says he's not returning to U.S. Congress next year
Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general on Thursday, said Friday he will not be returning to U.S. Congress next year.