The Sport of Blind Hockey
The parasport of Blind Hockey is a variation of ice hockey for athletes who are blind or partially sighted — known to its players as “The Fastest Blind Sport on Ice.” It uses some modified rules and equipment, most notably the adapted puck that makes noise and is larger than a traditional puck. At the recreational level all athletes must be visually impaired, while at the competitive level all players must be classified as legally blind — approximately ten percent vision or less.
While there is no rule limiting where a skater may go on the ice, typically skaters with the most vision play forward and participate in all three zones, while skaters with less or no vision play defence — in some cases as true stay-at-home defencemen, communicating with their goalie to orient themselves. All goaltenders have extremely low vision or are completely blind, and wear a blindfold.
The adapted puck
A traditional puck measures three inches across and one inch high, is solid rubber, and makes no noise. The Blind Hockey puck measures five and a half inches across by one and two-thirds inches high, is built from thin steel, hollow, and filled with ball bearings that rattle and make noise. The larger size and the sound let blind and partially sighted players track it as it moves — the single most important adaptation that makes hockey accessible to athletes who are blind or partially sighted.
Adapted rules: the "Pass Rule"
The most significant rule adaptation is the "Pass Rule": an attacking team must complete at least one pass after crossing the offensive blue line before they are eligible to score. Once completed, the referee sounds an electronic whistle with a distinct high-pitched chirp — telling the attackers they may now shoot, and warning the defenders and goaltender that a shot may be coming.
The rule is especially important for players who are completely blind — above all the goaltenders. It also stops the players with the most vision from rushing end to end and scoring on unsuspecting goalies. There are no breakaways in Blind Hockey: it is truly a team game.
Adapted rules: nets and goaltenders
Because the puck makes little noise in the air, Blind Hockey uses modified three-foot-high nets — one foot shorter than traditional nets. Where custom nets aren't available, a "shot blocker" tarp covers the top foot of a standard net. If the puck comes to a complete stop in the crease after a save it is declared frozen and play stops immediately. For safety, no player other than the goaltender may ever enter the crease, and the sport uses all standard IIHF safety protocols, including no-touch icing and stopping play any time a goaltender is hit in the head.
Eligibility
For Canadian Blind Hockey domestic competition, the Open division uses expanded visual criteria matching the Quebec Ministry of Health's definition of visually impaired (similar to the USABA B4 category). Players whose vision is at or below the following thresholds may compete:
- a visual acuity of less than 6/21;
- a continuous visual field of less than 60°, including the central fixation point, measured horizontally or vertically;
- complete hemianopia.
For competitive Blind Hockey, athletes must comply with the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) classification standards:
- B1 — no light perception in either eye, up to light perception but unable to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or direction.
- B2 — from the ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to a visual acuity of 20/600 and/or a visual field of less than 5 degrees.
- B3 — from visual acuity above 20/600 up to 20/200 and/or a visual field of less than 20 and more than 5 degrees.
The point system
To keep games decided by skill rather than level of vision, each team may have a maximum of 14 points on the ice at any time: 3 points for a B3 player, 2 for a B2, and 1 for a B1. B3 players wear black helmets, B2 players white, and B1 skaters red. All goalies must be classified B1 — completely blind. Like "too many players on the ice," there is a minor penalty for "too many points on the ice," and a shorthanded team also loses three points per penalty. The system ensures both teams have a similar level of vision — and that there is a role on every team for strong players of every sight class.
Tournament format
Blind Hockey is co-ed, with men and women playing together across a wide range of ages, vision levels, and skill. One of the sport's most unique features: established teams do not compete against each other. At every Canadian Blind Hockey competition, registered players are assigned a division based on age, vision, and ability, and teams are drafted fresh for that event only — so players from communities without a local program can take part too. At the Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament — the world's oldest and largest Blind Hockey event — players typically compete in one of five divisions: Children, Youth, Low Vision & Development, Open, and Select.
Pathway to the Paralympics
As world leaders in Blind Hockey, Canadian Blind Hockey works continuously to grow the sport internationally, with the goal of a World Championship and inclusion in the Winter Paralympic Games.
- 2010 — Founding meeting: goals set to unify the parasport and build international competition.
- 2013 — First-ever National Blind Hockey Tournament, with a codified rulebook and standardized adapted puck.
- 2018 — First Canada vs USA International Blind Ice Hockey Series; the series continues annually.
- 2019 — Blind Hockey programming in six countries: Canada, USA, England, Finland, Russia, and Sweden.
- Ahead — Four Nations Cup, the first World Championships for Blind Ice Hockey, and the goal of inclusion in the Winter Paralympic Games in the 2030s.