Roster set for 2023 Para Hockey Cup
27 gamers set to take the ice in Calgary Nov. 16-19
CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled 27 gamers who will attend Canada’s National Para Development League (PDL) on the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, Nov. 16-19 in Calgary.
The PDL is an effort by Hockey Canada to create extra aggressive touchpoints with its para hockey athletes by means of the season, and offers a chance for NextGen athletes to realize expertise alongside nationwide crew members.
Three goaltenders, 9 defence and 15 forwards had been chosen by Marshall Starkman (Thornhill, ON), supervisor of hockey operations, and Russ Herrington (Unionville, ON), head coach of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, to take part in small-area coaching periods and three intrasquad video games.
“We are eager to introduce a new component to our in-season evaluation process, featuring national team and NextGen athletes,” Starkman mentioned. “The PDL will be a unique opportunity to enhance our game play, while providing valuable experience to the next wave of aspiring national team players.”
The roster options 11 gamers who gained a silver medal on the 2023 International Para Hockey Cup in Ostrava, Czechia final month (Boily, Dunn, Henry, Hurst, Jacobs-Webb, Kingsmill, LeBlanc, McGregor, Pellizzari), eight gamers who gained a silver medal on the 2023 World Para Hockey Championship in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Boily, Cozzolino, Dunn, Henry, Jacobs-Webb, LeBlanc, McGregor, Smith), 5 who gained a silver medal on the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China (Dunn, Henry, Jacobs-Webb, Kingsmill, McGregor) and 5 rookies (Boutilier, Buchanan, Clements, Topping, White).
Hockey Canada has additionally introduced that Mike Foligno (Sudbury, ON), Greg Ireland (Orangeville, ON) and Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) will work with the gamers on the ice and behind the bench. Tara Chisholm (Medicine Hat, AB), head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Para Hockey Team, may even take part as a visitor coach.
Foligno most just lately gained silver as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Para Hockey Team on the 2023 World Para Hockey Championship. He has been an assistant coach with Team Canada since 2018, having gained a silver medal on the 2022 Paralympics. Foligno made his para hockey teaching debut through the 2017-18 season as a visitor coach, and likewise led Canada’s National Para Hockey Development Team as head coach. He performed greater than 1,000 profession NHL video games and represented Canada on three events on the IIHF World Championship (1981, 1986, 1987), successful a bronze medal in 1986.
Ireland spent the 2022-23 season as head coach of Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). His teaching profession started in 1992 with the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and consists of stops with the Grand Rapids Griffins (2003-07) and San Antonio Rampage (2007-10) of the American Hockey League (AHL), Owen Sound Attack (2011-15) of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), HC Lugano (2016-19) within the National League (NL) in Switzerland and HC Bolzano (2019-22) within the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL) in Italy. Internationally, he has served as head coach for Italy on the IIHF World Championship (2020, 2021) and for China on the Division 1B Worlds (2022).
Westlake will make his worldwide teaching debut after concluding his taking part in profession with a silver medal at his fifth Paralympic Winter Games in 2022. He made his Team Canada debut in 2003 at age 17 and completed his profession with 369 factors (175–194—369) in 240 video games performed. His résumé features a Paralympic gold medal (2006), three IPC World Para Hockey Championship gold medals (2008, 2013, 2017) and 4 Para Hockey Cup/World Sledge Hockey Challenge gold medals (2008, 2011, 2011, 2013).
Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will head to Quispamsis, New Brunswick, for the 2023 Para Hockey Cup, Dec. 3-9.
For extra data on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please go to HockeyCanada.ca, or comply with alongside by way of social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.
