First-Ever Canadian Blind Hockey Game on NHL Ice Takes Place at the Canadian Tire Centre Next Thursday
The Eastern Regional Blind Hockey Tournament returns to Ottawa Dec 28 – 29 in partnership with the Bell Capital Cup
Ottawa, ON – Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to bring the 2023 Eastern Regional Blind Hockey Tournament back to Ottawa on Thursday, December 28 & Friday, December 29. The event is being held in partnership with the Bell Capital Cup and brought to you by the CNIB Foundation.
After founding the event in Ottawa in 2017 and returning in 2019, this is the third time the Eastern Regionals have been held in the nation’s capital, but the very first time a Canadian Blind Hockey game will be played on NHL ice at the Canadian Tire Centre – the home of the Ottawa Senators.
All three games are free to attend and open to the public – this is the perfect opportunity to experience a hockey game for free at the Canadian Tire Centre!
Players from 10 different Blind Hockey clubs across Canada will be drafted into two teams that will compete in a three-game series. The stacked roster includes seven current or former members of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team, who will showcase some of the best talent Blind Hockey has to offer.
The Para sport of 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.
The 23rd Bell Capital Cup includes over 200 teams from three different continents competing in U-10 to U-13 divisions. In addition to competing, these youth players will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about hockey for athletes with a disability as the event includes Para Hockey, Special Hockey, and Blind Hockey showcase events.
“With more than 200 youth teams taking part in the Bell Capital Cup we are expecting packed crowds as we showcase some of the best that Blind Hockey has to offer,” explains Canadian Blind Hockey’s Executive Director, and Ottawa native Matt Morrow. “Eastern Regionals is one of our four marquee annual events and we’re thrilled so many Blind Hockey players from across six provinces will be coming to Ottawa to showcase Blind Hockey and create great awareness for our Para sport!”
Canadian Blind Hockey programs are made possible by national program partners the CNIB Foundation, and partners the Daniel Family Foundation, AMI, Electra Health, and Manion.
2023 EASTERN REGIONAL BLIND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Game # 1
Thursday, Dec 28. 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Canadian Tire Centre
1000 Palladium Dr, Ottawa, ON
Game # 2
Friday, Dec 29. 12:05 pm – 1:10 pm
Bell Sensplex
1565 Maple Grove Rd, Stittsville, ON
Game # 3
Friday, Dec 29. 5:20 pm –6:25 pm
Bell Sensplex
1565 Maple Grove Rd, Stittsville, ON
ABOUT:
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 Blind Hockey Teams.
If you would like to learn more about Canadian Blind Hockey and speak with a representative, please reach out to us!
Offsite contact:
Melanie Carrey, Marketing Manager & Executive Assistant
Melcarrey@blindicehockey.com (416) 526-8114
On-site contacts:
Matt Morrow, Executive Director
mattmorrow@blindicehockey.com (604) 812-6786
Luca DeMontis, Program Manager
lucademontis@blindicehockey.com (416) 454-4771
Follow us on social media @CanadianBlindHockey for more updates!
