Calgary hosts hockey tournament for visually-impaired players

Visually-impaired hockey players got the chance to showcase their skills as part of the Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament.

Some 40 legally-blind players from Canada, the United States and England met at Calgary’s Winsport Arena for the event.

Canadian Blind Hockey sponsor Electra Health Mark Bentz drops the ceremonial puck drop to start the 2022 Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament. pic.twitter.com/JeqyixaaYp

— CanadianBlindHockey (@CDNBlindHockey) November 19, 2022

“You can really do anything as long as you put your mind to it,” said tournament participant, Lucas Desrochers,

Program Manager of Canadian Blind Hockey and General Manager of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team, Luca Demontis, says the players are all at different stages.

“We’ve got some players that lost their vision recently and they’ve been playing traditional hockey since they were four,” he said. “And then we have some other players that were born visually impaired and through attending our learn to skate programs, our development camps, and our tournaments they’ve developed their blind hockey skills.”

The puck used in the games, Demonitis says, is about three-and-a-half times bigger than a standard hockey puck and filled with ball bearings. He says the focus is listening to the puck and communicating with each other.

Read More:

• Calgary Olympic Plaza holding first skate of the season Sunday

• Calgarians celebrate Calgary Flames rising star player Nazem Kadri

• Calgary gets new dome for winter outdoor play

Wayne Desrochers and his wife flew to Calgary with their 20-year-old son Lucas and some of his teammates to participate in the tournament.

“My wife and I came as guides. So what happens is my wife will be a guide for my son and then I turn to be a guide to one of the other hockey players just to help them through whatever is necessary to do,” the senior Desrochers said

About a year and a half ago Lucas’ eyesight started to fade because of a hereditary condition.

“Felt like I had no purpose and I just stayed in my room doing nothing. And when I found these guys it was like there was a whole team of people that are just like me and face the same daily problems. And then you get to come out to somewhere like here and you meet everyone from different provinces with the same problems and it’s just an amazing experience,” said Lucas.

The assistant captain of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team, Jason Yuha, says he was born blind and played minor hockey and Junior B growing up. Yuha has played with the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team since 2017.

“I know a lot of people with a disability are sometimes scared or nervous but it’s such an inclusive and welcoming community [and] you’re gonna fall in love with it as soon as you start. So I encourage everyone who’s ever shy or whatever just come out and try it and I promise you, you’re gonna love it,” said Yuha.

The Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament ends off Sunday afternoon and runs from Nov. 18 to 20 at the Winsport Arena in Calgary.