EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: 2025 WESTERN REGIONAL BLIND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT RICHMOND, BC. OCTOBER 17 – 19
The tournament is being hosted in celebration of the growth of the Para sport across BC with new Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey & Victoria Blind Hockey Teams.
The 2025 Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament presented by the CNIB Foundation is returning to Metro Vancouver this fall and will take place from October 17 to 19 at Minoru Arena in Richmond. The event features two teams competing in a best-of-three series with players drafted from across Western Canada and Ontario. The event is 100% free to attend and open to the public and will be broadcast live on the Canadian Blind Hockey YouTube Channel.
“Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to see so much momentum in BC with our new Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey Team entering its second season and our brand-new expansion program in Victoria which begins in late October,” explains Canadian Blind Hockey’s Vancouver-based Executive Director Matt Morrow. “This is a milestone event for us as it’s the fifth Western Regionals but the very first time we’ve had players representing all four provinces in Western Canada. There are now eight Blind Hockey teams across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba which really shows the tremendous growth of Blind Hockey across the country”.
During the event Canadian Blind Hockey will be hosting our Try Blind Hockey Field-Trip program for students from across the lower mainland to try the Para sport. The event also serves to officially launch the 2025 – 26 Canadian Blind Hockey program season with the first Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey Team practice and will include a very special major partnership announcement.
2025 Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament Schedule:
Friday October 17
10:00am 10:15am Opening Ceremonies
10:00am 12:00pm Western Regionals Game #1
1:00pm 2:00pm Children and Youth Try Blind Hockey Session
Saturday October 18
12:00pm 2:00pm Western Regionals Game #2
2:00pm 3:00pm Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey Team Practice
Sunday October 19
12:00pm 2:00pm Western Regionals Game #3
Arena address: Minoru Arena, 7551 Minoru Gate, Richmond, BC V6Y 1N9
The Para sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes who are blind or partially sighted – with approximately 10% vision or less – using an adapted puck that is larger than a traditional puck and that makes noise. The hometown Vancouver Eclipse Blind Hockey Team is made up of players from across the lower-mainland and will be sending a dozen players from Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, New Westminster, and Abbotsford.
“It’s important for Canadian Blind Hockey to continue hosting regional events in different communities to give local Blind Hockey players the chance to play at home and attract new players who may have never heard of Blind Hockey or didn’t realize they could still play hockey with low vision,” explains Program Director Luca DeMontis. “We hope the Metro Vancouver community will show up to cheer these players on and learn more about the Para sport and hopefully introduce the game to some potential new players.”
In addition to the hosts, players have been drafted from a dozen teams including the Calgary Seeing Ice Dogs, the Central Alberta Bullseye, the Edmonton SeeHawks, the Camrose Canines, the Saskatoon Puck Bandits, and new yet to be named teams in Victoria, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Chicago.
About Canadian Blind Hockey: Canadian Blind Hockey is a charity that changes the lives of children, and youth who are blind or partially sighted by providing Blind Hockey programming including: introductory try-it sessions, development camps, regional and national competitions, and by supporting the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team.
Canadian Blind Hockey proudly operates 12 teams across Canada and hosts at least four major events annually including our flagship Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament which is set to return for its 12th year from March 20 to 22, 2026 at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
Blind Hockey is played by athletes whose level of vision ranges from legally blind – which is approximately 10% vision – to completely blind, using an adapted puck that makes noise and is bigger than a traditional puck among other adaptations.
Media contact:
Melanie Carrey
Manager, Communications, Canadian Blind Hockey
melcarrey@blindicehockey.com (416) 526-8114
@canadianblindhockey on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin @CDNBlindHockey on X
