In an effort to raise global awareness of blind hockey, Canadian and American blind hockey players recently convened at Winsport Arena in Calgary to promote the sport. Specifically, the event featured the participation of three athletes from the Red Deer area – Blake Schneider, Tristan Lindberg, and Cory Gaskin – who engaged in two showcase games on May 4 and 5. Notably, these games were organized by Canadian Blind Hockey in collaboration with Hockey Canada and coincided with the 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championship.
Blind Hockey is a distinctive sport played by athletes who are blind or visually impaired, utilizing a larger puck that produces sound. The primary objective of the showcase was to spark interest in the sport on an international scale, particularly in nations where blind hockey is currently only played in a recreational capacity. At present, Canada and the U.S. are the sole countries with national blind hockey teams, despite the sport’s potential to achieve global prominence.
Throughout the tournament, 15 members of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team and seven representatives of Team USA demonstrated their skills, including several promising prospects. The event organizers were eager to promote the sport to the top six Para hockey nations worldwide that do not currently possess Blind Hockey teams, namely Czechia, China, South Korea, Italy, Japan, and Slovakia. Ultimately, the aspiration is for blind hockey to be integrated into the Paralympic games, further solidifying the sport’s global appeal.
Tristan Lindberg, a 27-year-old defenceman representing the Central Alberta Bullseye blind hockey team, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, characterizing it as one of the fastest blind hockey games in which he had participated. He underscored the elevated level of competition and the fulfilling experience of uniting teams for the showcase. Having played traditional hockey since the age of five, Lindberg currently divides his time between playing for the Canadian blind hockey national team and his local team.
Cory Gaskin, a 38-year-old goaltender for the Bullseye in Red Deer, conveyed his excitement at being invited to partake in an elite-level competition for the first time. He reflected on the challenge of competing against top players and the distinctive demands of his position. As a blindfolded goaltender, Gaskin greatly relies on his hearing and the guidance of his teammates to make saves, a skill that he has honed throughout his life due to his visual impairment.
The athletes also expressed optimism regarding the potential impact of the event, noting the interest expressed by representatives from other countries. Lindberg indicated that several nations had expressed eagerness to schedule meetings and had even taken a blind hockey puck home to introduce the sport to their communities. Such a positive response indicates the burgeoning appeal of blind hockey on a global front.
The involvement of local athletes in showcasing blind hockey in Calgary not only showcases their remarkable skills and dedication to the sport, but also contributes to the broader objective of promoting blind hockey worldwide. As the popularity of blind hockey continues to surge, thanks to the efforts of dedicated athletes and organizations, the prospect of expanding the sport to new territories becomes increasingly feasible. With the support and enthusiasm of athletes like Schneider, Lindberg, and Gaskin, blind hockey is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on the international sports stage.