Home / Sports / Ottawa Hosts Inaugural Blind Hockey Ontario Cup
Ottawa Hosts Inaugural Blind Hockey Ontario Cup
9 Nov
Summary
- Ottawa hosted the first-ever Ontario Cup blind hockey tournament.
- The event featured 45 players from across Canada.
- A special metal puck with ball bearings allows players to hear it.
Ottawa served as the host city for Canadian Blind Hockey's inaugural Ontario Cup, a three-day tournament held at the Tom Brown Arena. Approximately 45 players participated, with attendees traveling from various Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, alongside a strong contingent from Ontario.
The games featured a unique metal puck containing ball bearings, designed to emit sound so players can follow its movement. This event marks a significant step in providing more competitive opportunities for blind hockey players.
Organizers emphasized the importance of such tournaments in fostering inclusion. Blind hockey allows individuals with vision loss to participate in a sport that is widely popular, providing a normalized and engaging activity.
The tournament is intended to kick off the fall season for blind hockey, complementing the national tournament held in Toronto each spring. This initiative aims to grow the sport by bringing players together for meaningful competition, addressing the challenge of low incidence disability populations needing centralized events.
