Canadian Blind Hockey and Manitoba Moose Team Up to Bring First Blind Hockey Program to Manitoba!

Manitoba becomes ninth province with a Blind Hockey Program with the launch of the new Winnipeg Blind Hockey Program

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thursday January 16, 2025 – Canadian Blind Hockey and the Manitoba Moose are teaming up to host a ‘Try Skating and Blind Hockey’ program on Sunday, January 26th to officially launch the all-new Winnipeg Blind Hockey Program. The Try Blind Hockey event is 100% free and open to everyone in the community who is blind, or partially sighted, who wants to try the Para sport of Blind Hockey. Canadian Blind Hockey programs are made possible in partnership with our national program partner, the CNIB Foundation.

“The Para sport of Blind Hockey has grown across Canada over the past decade, and yet there’s been a big hole in the middle of the map as we haven’t had a program in Manitoba,” explains Matt Morrow, Executive Director of Canadian Blind Hockey. “We are thrilled to address this gap by launching the Winnipeg Blind Hockey Program. Having the support of the Manitoba Moose for our season kick-off ‘Try Skating and Blind Hockey’ program just really amps up the excitement and helps create more awareness. We are extremely grateful for their support of community initiatives such as Winnipeg Blind Hockey.”

Moose players Dylan Anhorn, Dawson Barteaux, Kevin Conley, Tyson Empey, and Ashton Sautner, as well as crowd-favourite Mick E. Moose, will attend the event along with approximately 20 participants who are blind or partially sighted and range in age from 6 to 60 years old.

“The Manitoba Moose and True North Sports + Entertainment believe in making a meaningful and consistent contribution to our community. We are excited to partner with Canadian Blind Hockey to bring the Para sport to Winnipeg,” said Senior Director, Hockey & Business Operations for the Manitoba Moose, Brad Andrews. “We are thrilled to support Blind Hockey in Manitoba, ensuring those members in our community who are blind, or partially sighted, have the chance to participate in this great game.”

While Winnipeg Blind Hockey is a new program, there are already two community members who regularly participate in Canadian Blind Hockey Tournaments and Camps, one is Winnipeg Program Coordinator Scarlette Dorn.

“I am beyond excited to have a program starting in my hometown of Winnipeg,” explains Dorn. “Blind Hockey has changed my life in many ways. It helped me find comfort in acknowledging my blindness and introduced me to a wide range of friends in the blind community. With the start of this program, I look forward to watching people fall in love with the Para sport like I did.”

Registration to participate in the event is open until January 24: 2024 – 2025 Winnipeg Try Skating and Blind Hockey Program Registration Form

Winnipeg Try Skating and Blind Hockey Program will be held at Hockey for All Centre, 3969 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3K 1W4

Schedule:

Sunday January 26, 2025

  • 11:00 am – Arrival
  • 11:00 am – 11:40 am – Gear up skates + Equipment
  • 11:40 am – 12:40 pm – Try Skating and Blind Hockey with the Manitoba Moose

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 and to send a camera please contact melcarrey@blindicehockey.com 416-526-8114

Onsite contact: 

Matt Morrow,

Executive Director,

Canadian Blind Hockey

mattmorrow@blindicehockey.com  1-604-812-6786