Canada’s National Para Hockey Team Returns to Woolwich in 2023

National Team to conduct final training camp prior to the upcoming World Para Hockey Championship, closing with an exhibition series against Team USA

Elmira, ON – Waterloo Region is pleased to welcome back the Men’s National Para Hockey Team as part of their training program leading up to the 2023 World Para Hockey Championship.

This training camp will include a three-game series against the USA Para Hockey team and will mark the final time the Canadians will compete as a team prior to the world championship.

"Waterloo Region served as an excellent host to Canada’s National Para Hockey Team back in 2020, and we are thrilled to return to Elmira for this 3-game series against the United States in 2023,” said Marshall Starkman, Manager of Hockey Operations with Hockey Canada. “We look forward to the community welcoming us back as we take on our cross-border rivals.”

The Team Canada training camp will take place March 13-18, 2023 at the Woolwich Memorial Centre, with games against the USA scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18. Tickets for all games will be available at the door.

The National Para Hockey Team was last in Waterloo Region in winter 2020 for a training camp and series of games against the USA hosted in Elmira at the Woolwich Memorial Centre.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome this team back to Waterloo Region,” said Allister Scorgie, Director of Sport Hosting at Explore Waterloo Region. “We know that the players and staff enjoyed their last camp in Elmira. Being able to provide a first-class facility and a familiar environment where the team can train is what we aim to deliver. The camp showcases that Waterloo Region is a community where high-performance sport can elevate its game and thrive. It also shows our support for the best athletes in the country and the world.”

Para Ice Hockey is a fast, competitive, and highly physical sport. All players have a lower body impairment and are strapped to a two-bladed sledge. They propel themselves with sticks that are spiked at one end with a curved blade at the other for shooting.

More information on the 2022-23 Canadian Para Hockey team can be found here.

Information regarding the National Para Hockey Team Series vs the USA is available on the Hockey Canada website.

About the Explore Waterloo Region Sport Hosting Office

Founded in 2019, the Sport Hosting Office (SHO) is a jointly funded sport entity in Waterloo Region responsible for Sport Hosting and Tourism. The mandate of the SHO includes attracting sporting events, developing sport infrastructure, enhancing the profile of sport in the community and aligning the various sport strategies to enhance Waterloo Region’s profile as a premier sport destination. The SHO is housed under Explore Waterloo Region, the region’s Destination Marketing Organization.

About Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada is the governing body for hockey in Canada and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with a membership through its 13 Member associations of over 633,000 players, coaches and officials. Hockey Canada is a not-for-profit organization that creates leading-edge hockey development programs for its members to deliver in communities across Canada; provides consistent rules and regulations and various other membership services from coast to coast to coast; manages numerous regional, national and international hockey championships and events; and leads the operation of all teams that represent Canada in international competition. Hockey Canada’s mission is to lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences. For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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