CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada has unveiled the 19 players who will represent the nation with Canada’s National Para Hockey Team at the International Para Hockey (IPH) Cup, Oct. 2-8 in Ostrava, Czechia. Two goaltenders, six defence and 11 forwards were selected by head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, ON/York University, OUA) and Marshall Starkman (Thornhill, ON), manager of hockey operations. Assistant coaches Mike Fountain (Gravenhurst, ON) and Liam Heelis (Georgetown, ON/Halifax, QMJHL) also provided input. “Beginning the second year of our Paralympic quadrennial at the International Para Hockey Cup with such a determined group of athletes is very exciting,” Herrington said. “We are looking forward for the opportunity to build on our evaluation camp while competing against three strong teams in Czechia this year.” The roster features 11 players who won a silver medal at the 2023 World Para Hockey Championship in Moose Jaw, SK (Boily, Cozzolino, Dunn, Halbert, Henry, Jacobs-Webb, Kovacevich, LeBlanc, McGregor, Tousignant, Smith), five who won a silver medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China (Dunn, Henry, Jacobs-Webb, Kingsmill, McGregor) and two players making their international debut (Culmone, Hurst).
Canada’s National Para Hockey Team selected its roster from the 30 players who participated in evaluation camp, Sept. 2-9 at the WinSport Event Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Canada will also have three of its players (Armstrong, Crane, Dixon) participate in the tournament with Team IPH. For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.