Canadian Hockey Team Back on Top of Podium!

Canadian National Blind Hockey Team wins 2026 International Blind Ice Hockey Series

TORONTO, ON – Canadian Blind Hockey is proud to announce that the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team has captured its 7th consecutive gold medal.  Team Canada continued its dominance at the 2026 International Blind Ice Hockey Series, held March 20–22 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.

In a landmark year for the sport, the 2026 International Blind Ice Hockey Series marked the debut of Team World, joining long-standing rivals Team USA and Team Canada. The expanded international format showcased the rapid global growth of Blind Ice Hockey and elevated the level of competition on the ice as it included players from Canada, USA, UK and Finland.

The Canadian team once again demonstrated Para sport excellence as the athletes showcased incredible skill and execution while dominating the worlds fastest team sport while having 10% vision or less.

“This is a truly special moment for our program and for our country to be able to bring home a gold medal for Canada,” said Luca DeMontis, General Manager of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team. “To win seven consecutive gold medals is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and heart of this group. Watching these athletes wear the maple leaf and leave everything on the ice fills us with immense pride. They continue to raise the bar for what’s possible in Blind Hockey, and we couldn’t be more proud to bring this gold medal home to Canada.”

Team Canada standouts Jason Yuha from Rosalind, AB and Liam O’Callahan from Edmonton, AB tied to lead the tournament in scoring with 21 points each and were named Tournament All-Stars in the B3 category (10% vision or less). Joining them were teammates Mark DeMontis from Toronto, ON and Simon Richard from Moncton, NB who were named All-Stars in the B2 category (5% vision or less).  The All-Star team was rounded out by rookie Marten Orr from Finland (B3), and Team USA goaltender Doug Goist (B1).

Since its inception in 2018, the International Blind Ice Hockey Series has served as the premier international competition for the sport. The introduction of Team World in 2026 represents a major step forward in expanding Blind Hockey globally leading towards the creation of a World Championships for the Para sport.

“This year’s tournament showed exactly how far Blind Hockey has come,” said Matt Morrow, Executive Director of Canadian Blind Hockey. “The addition of Team World in the International Blind Ice Hockey Series showcased the growth of the sport in countries outside of North America and demonstrated there are skilled Blind Ice Hockey players competing around the world. Canada is proud to lead the growth of our Canadian-invented Para sport and support the development of Blind Hockey programs worldwide and work towards a World Championships.”

All games are available to watch on Canadian Blind Hockey’s YouTube.

For more information, and to arrange interviews please contact Canadian Blind Hockey’s Marketing and Communications Manager Mel Carrey melcarrey@blindicehockey.com

The 2026 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team roster includes:

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Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament is returning to Toronto from March 20 – 22, 2026 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. Now in its 12th year, the tournament has played a significant role in the growth of the Para sport of Blind Hockey across Canada and around the world. The event is brought to you by the CNIB Foundation and made possible by our national partners at the Canucks for Kids Fund, Electra Health, the Daniel Family Foundation, and Manion.

The 2026 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament will be the largest Blind Hockey tournament hosted to date. There will be 25 games played across several divisions including children, youth, low vision and development, open, and for the first time ever – a three team International Blind Ice Hockey Series featuring Canada, USA, and Team World!

Players come from all over the world to compete in this tournament including Canada, as well as the United States, Finland and England. This year, Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to host the 2026 International Blind Ice Hockey Series and hope that the implementation of Team World inspires other international blind sport organizations to begin Blind Hockey programs in hopes that the Para sport becomes included in the Paralympic Games.

About Blind Hockey Rules and Adaptations

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Thank you to our 2026 sponsors and partners:

Blind Hockey player Mark Bentz has a plan to help get us the rest of the way: he’s contributing up to $25,000 in matching donations! Double your impact and join our Donor-Wall-of-Fame by donating today here.

Learn about the life-changing impact of Blind Hockey programs from Mark in his own words:

I was diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy at age nine. It’s a degenerative condition, and today I have about two percent vision with a prognosis of eventual total vision loss. Sports were a huge part of my life growing up, but by my early teens I could feel my vision affecting my ability to keep up. By 13, team sports had become too fast and dynamic so I stepped away. Someone suggested Para Alpine Skiing and after I discovered the sport I progressed quickly, competing provincially and nationally within two years.

I was picked at 15 to compete in the 1984 Innsbruck Austria Paralympics for Para Alpine Skiing. At a time when school was a struggle and I knew I was limited due to my eyesight, having the Paralympic dream gave me direction and hope. Between the ages of 14 and 18 I want two gold medals at the Paralympics and two gold medals at the World Championships. After reaching that peak, I chose not to return to the Paralympics and stepped away from competition.

The years that followed were difficult. Without sport and without my vision, I lost purpose and struggled, including a period of addiction. Thankfully by 23, I returned to school, studying kinesiology and then massage therapy. I knew I wanted to own my own business, and massage therapy fit perfectly as I adjusted to life with vision loss. That decision changed everything. I went from feeling like I was losing to feeling like I was winning again. Over time, I opened several clinics and eventually founded Electra Health, now one of the largest multidisciplinary clinics in Canada.

At 30, someone walked into my clinic and mentioned Blind Hockey. I thought he was joking. I hadn’t skated since elementary school. I decided to try an Eclipse practice, and I was instantly hooked. I wasn’t the best player, but it was fun, and it felt incredible to be part of a team again. With a degenerative disease, you’re always aware that life can change suddenly, but Blind Hockey gave me something I could grow in and hold onto. It restored a sense of purpose and belonging.

Today, being able to give back through Canadian Blind Hockey feels like coming full circle. It brings up a lot of emotion, but also a lot of gratitude. Blind Hockey gave me purpose later in life, just as Para sport did in my teens, and it’s a privilege to support the next generation. My hope is that Blind Hockey continues to grow toward the Paralympic stage, giving athletes opportunities that didn’t exist for me in regards to Blind Hockey at the competitive level. Building strong youth and children’s programs is how we get there and not if but when we make that historic moment possible.

When you donate now until March 22, 2026, you are helping Canadian Blind Hockey reach its fundraising goal of $100,000. I pledge to match up to $25,000 to ensure they reach their goal and continue to help inspire hundreds of Canadians who are blind or partially sighted: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/141041

The Canadian National Blind Hockey Team are 6-time Gold Medallists Against Team USA, Will Now Face Team World in the International Series

TORONTO, ON, March 2 2026 – Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team will be looking to earn its 7^th consecutive championship and defend their title against Team USA in Toronto March 20 – 22 2026 as part of the 12^th Annual Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament at Mattamy Athletic Centre.

Since 2019, the International Blind Ice Hockey Series has been a two-team three-game series between the Canadian and American Blind Hockey Teams. With the rapidly growing Para sport, organizers hope that the introduction of a Team World will increase awareness and encourage more Blind Hockey programs to grow across the globe.

“Over the past few weeks, our country has rallied behind our Olympic teams as they showcased the very highest level of hockey on the world stage and to now watch the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team pull that same maple leaf over their hearts is incredibly powerful,” reflects Luca DeMontis, General Manager, Canadian National Blind Hockey Team. “This group continues to amaze us with their elite talent, skill, and teamwork all while playing the game with 10 percent vision or less. I cannot wait to see them represent our nation.”

This year’s Canadian National Blind Hockey Team features 20 players representing seven different provinces spanning the country from BC to Newfoundland.

“This tournament is an annual celebration of how much the Para sport of Blind Hockey has grown across Canada and internationally,” reflects Matt Morrow, Executive Director of Canadian Blind Hockey. “With this being a Paralympic year, the demand to help Blind Hockey grow internationally in order to qualify as a Paralympic sport is greater than ever. We’re hoping the introduction of Team World will show countries that Canada is a true leader in Blind Hockey and that we want to help develop the sport abroad.”

The Para sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes who are blind or partially sighted using an adapted puck that is larger than a traditional puck and makes noise. At the international level players must be classified under the same system used in the Paralympics and have 10% vision or less.

Location: Mattamy Athletic Center, 50 Carlton street, Toronto

Schedule:

All games are free for the public to attend and will be broadcast live on Canadian Blind Hockey’s YouTube.

The 2026 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team roster includes:

ABOUT:

International Blind Ice Hockey:

Canadian Blind Hockey founded the International Blind Ice Hockey Federation (IBIHF) to grow the Canadian-invented parasport of Blind Hockey into the United States and around the world.  Canadian Blind Hockey’s goal in international development is to create competition opportunities for the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team. Currently Canada and the United States have the only two national Blind Hockey programs in the world, however representatives from England, Finland, Russia, and Australia have participated in our programs and events and are working to establish programs in their home countries. The goal of the IBIHF is to found a World Championships for Blind Hockey, and to bring the sport to enough countries to be able to apply for inclusion in the Winter Paralympic Games.

For more information, and to arrange interviews please contact Canadian Blind Hockey’s Marketing and Communications Manager Mel Carrey melcarrey@blindicehockey.com

Canadian Blind Hockey Welcomes Paralympic Medalist and World Champion Tyler McGregor as New Ambassador

Tyler McGregor joins World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Natalie Spooner as Canadian Blind Hockey Ambassadors to Support the Growing Organization and Para Sport of Blind Hockey.

Toronto ON, Thursday February 12 2026 – Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to announce that the captain of Canada’s Para Ice Hockey Team, Tyler McGregor, is joining the charity as our newest Ambassador. His primary role will be to help raise awareness for Canadian Blind Hockey and champion the Para sport of Blind Hockey across Canada, while also supporting international development efforts.

“I feel so much gratitude. After nearly 15 years of competing, it’s important to reflect on how I can make the greatest impact across other Para sports, including Blind Hockey,” says McGregor. “Having been involved in Blind Hockey for almost a decade, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the athletes and their dedication to the game. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help create pathways so that any athlete who wants to compete at the highest level in Para sport has access to opportunities like the Paralympics. I want Blind Hockey athletes to have that same chance.”

McGregor’s involvement will create a significant impact in the lives of children, youth, and adults who are blind or partially sighted across Canada, both on and off the ice. Canadian Blind Hockey is confident he will help recruit more Canadians who are blind or partially sighted to the game, while also supporting the international development of the sport, with the ultimate goal of inclusion in the Paralympic Games.

“Tyler McGregor is a Paralympic champion and a role model across Para sports, and his endorsement of Blind Hockey means so much to our community,” says Matt Morrow, Executive Director of Canadian Blind Hockey. “Tyler has reached the highest level as Canada’s captain on the world stage, and now he’s helping the next generation believe their dreams are possible too. For some Blind Hockey athletes, that dream is standing on a podium one day; for others, it’s the chance to get off the bench and take part in a weekly program. Tyler’s leadership shows that every dream matters.”

McGregor’s story is one of resilience and determination. At 15, his life changed when he was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, a form of soft-tissue cancer that resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. During his recovery, he was introduced to Para ice hockey and realized he still had a pathway to compete and find a new team. Tyler has been a fixture on the Men’s National Para Ice Hockey Team since 2012 and has collected three world titles (2013, 2017, 2024), Paralympic silver medals in 2018 and 2022, and a Paralympic bronze medal in 2014.

McGregor is currently preparing to represent Canada at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milano. On behalf of the entire Canadian Blind Hockey community, we wish Tyler and the rest of Team Canada the very best of luck — Go Canada Go! We look forward to welcoming McGregor back to Canada as we host the 2026 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament, March 20–22, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

ABOUT CANADIAN BLIND HOCKEY: Canadian Blind Hockey is a national registered charity that changes the lives of children, youth, and adults who are blind or partially sighted through local, regional, and national Blind Hockey programs, camps, and tournaments. Canadian Blind Hockey programs are made possible by our National Program Partner the CNIB Foundation and generous donors and sponsors across Canada.  For more information please visit canadianblindhockey.com.

For media inquiries please contact melcarrey@blindicehockey.com 416-526-8114

You asked, we listened! We’ve heard your requests for more styles and options for Canadian Blind Hockey’s official apparel. For us to keep up with demand, you will now have the chance to pre-order merchandise until February 20th, 2026.

For the very first time, we are selling customizable Canadian Blind Hockey jerseys where you can add your name and number and really show that you are a proud member of the Canadian Blind Hockey Team!

Pickup Dates: March 20–22, 2026 (10 am – 5pm daily)
Location: Mattamy Athletic Centre (Information & Raffle Table on 4th Floor East Concourse)

Steps:
• Place your order in advance and ensure you can pick it up in Toronto during the tournament
• Select your items and sizes
• Pick up your apparel at the tournament No other option is available. We will have limited merchandise available in person with no guarantees.

Form: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260275115513247

Please share with all of your family and friends planning on attending the tournament so they don’t miss out.

Jonathan Trzop:

In May 2022, I was officially diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 19 years old. By the time doctors confirmed it, I had about 8 percent vision in each eye, roughly 10 percent combined. I remember walking out of that appointment feeling like my entire future had been flipped upside down.

That morning, I drove myself to college like I always had.  I went from driving, training, and planning my career to suddenly needing rides and rethinking everything.

In middle school and high school, I was always bumping into things, missing obstacles, running into wet floor signs. I just thought I was clumsy or not paying attention. Doctors noticed black spots on my retina as early as 2015, but referrals moved slowly.

By the time I finally had a proper visual field test, the damage was already significant.

The strange thing about retinitis pigmentosa is that what you can’t see doesn’t look blurry, it’s just gone. You don’t realize what’s missing until it starts affecting your life in bigger ways.

Hockey has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started skating around six or seven years old and played minor hockey through my early teens. When I was 12, I started officiating a path inspired by my uncle, who spent decades refereeing major junior hockey, international tournaments, and even the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

After my diagnosis, I thought hockey was over with playing or referring.

That summer I tried playing with a local ball hockey league. I was introduced to Simon Richard, an assistant captain with Canada’s national blind hockey team. We met for a coffee at Tim Hortons before work. He told me about Blind Hockey and invited me to come try a camp.

By late fall, I was back on the ice—this time discovering blind hockey for the first time. In March 2023, I competed in the Open Division at the Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament.I fell in love with the game immediately.

I focused heavily on my skating. Without full vision, edge work, balance, and tight turns matter more than ever. Years of officiating had already helped develop my skating, and blind hockey pushed it even further.

By Nationals in 2023, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue seriously. It’s been incredible to be a member on the Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament. Simon is now my biggest inspiration in Blind Hockey that I look up to. He continues to make sure that I stay positive and that I keep working.

Today, my life is busy. I balance school, full-time work, hockey, and participation in a clinical trial aimed at slowing, or stopping – the progression of my vision loss. Every three months, I travel for long days of testing which includes visual field exams, dark adaptation tests, dilations.

If everything continues to go well, I may undergo surgery designed to halt further vision loss in one eye. Nothing is guaranteed, but even the possibility is something I’m grateful for.

This season, Blind Hockey came to Moncton and it was amazing. Family, former teammates, and fellow officials got to see the game for the first time.

It was incredible to see the feature on Sportsnet. If sharing my story helps even one person believe there’s still a path forward on or off the ice then it’s worth telling.

Simon Richard:

I was born with Aniridia, which means I have no iris which is the coloured ring-shaped muscle at the front of the eye that controls the size of the pupil. This makes me legally blind with blurred vision and sensitive to light.

 At 5 years old my friends were starting to play traditional hockey so I also wanted to start playing. It was very hard to play at first as I had a hard time seeing the puck and following the play. As my dad realized my struggles he found a way to teach me the concepts of the game. I can still picture in my head my dad sitting at the kitchen table with me and his coaching board explaining the positioning of each player on the ice and the concepts and strategies of the game. He had a game that he called “Where is the puck?”, where he placed some x’s and o’s on his board and I had to identify where the puck was.

This is how I started to understand the patterns of the game and how I started to develop my hockey IQ and start improving on the ice. I still play traditional hockey to this day with friends multiple times a week and it helps with my training for Blind Hockey events as the game is fast and it keeps me sharp.

I immersed myself in Para sport when I started playing goalball at the age of 9 years old. As I started to develop in that sport and realized that I had some potential I started to dream about competing at the Paralympic Games at 12 years old. I just missed out on my original goal of making the team for the 2012 London Paralympic Games (at 18), but it just gave me more fuel to keep pushing myself harder to be the best athlete I could be. When I was selected for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games it was literally a dream that came true. It was and always is a true honour to wear that maple leaf on your jersey. We really feel that the whole nation is behind us. I cherished every moment at the Games.

I have really enjoyed my time playing goalball, but I have decided to give myself another challenge by playing Blind Hockey and help where I can to grow the sport. I have now been on the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team for eight years. The goal is to grow the sport enough to compete at the Winter Paralympic Games and establish a professional Blind Hockey League. In my professional career I am also program manager at Parasport New Brunswick. We are trying to grow all the Paralympic sports in the province so that more kids and adults get to play and have a positive experience in Para sports.

Having the Eastern Regional Blind Hockey Tournament hosted in my hometown of Moncton has truly been a remarkable honor. Being able to play alongside my local teammate and member of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team Jonathan Trzop is a lot of fun. The connection to Hockey Day in Canada made it extra special to be able to showcase our passion for hockey and highlight the incredible potential within our Blind Hockey community. It was incredibly humbling to represent Moncton and the entire Blind Hockey community during the Hockey Day in Canada festivities by taking part in the Hockey Day Celebrity Game and joining the Sportsnet panel. I really hope this awareness leads us to finding new Blind Hockey players across New Brunswick and beyond.

Richard says Paralympics are ultimate goal for Blind Hockey: Sportnet

Sportsnet feature on Moncton – Growing the sport of Blind Hockey: Youtube

The Massimo DeMontis Memorial Scholarship honours the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Massimo DeMontis – an honoured member of the Canadian Blind Hockey Hall of Fame and passionate advocate, teammate, and builder of the Blind Hockey community. Massimo embodied courage, mentorship, and an unwavering belief in the power of sport to change lives, especially the lives of his sons Mark and Luca. His commitment to helping young athletes continues to inspire every corner of the Blind Hockey movement. Nothing made Massimo smile more than watching youth play hockey, especially young Blind Hockey players.

In his memory, this scholarship supports one youth Blind Hockey player annually in their pursuit of either their post-secondary goals or development as a Blind Hockey player. Each year, the award will recognize a young athlete who demonstrates Massimo’s values: leadership on and off the ice, dedication to their community, resilience in the face of challenges, and a commitment to personal growth.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be an active youth Blind Hockey player aged 16 -26  currently registered in a Canadian Blind Hockey program, event, camp, or sanctioned team
• Be enrolled in high school or enrolled or accepted to a recognized post-secondary program (university, college, trade school, or vocational program)
• Demonstrate leadership, sportsmanship, and community involvement
• Be a Canadian resident

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the online application form along with one letter of reference (coach, teacher, mentor, or community leader)

All applications are due by Friday February 20, 2026 and will be reviewed by the Massimo DeMontis Scholarship committee. The winner will be announced at the 2026 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament Children and Youth Awards Ceremony on Sunday March 22, 2026.

Apply via this google form