Para sport notebook: Canada delivers standout defensive performance with silver at Para Hockey Cup

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. – Canada’s National Para Hockey Team earned the silver medal at the 2025 Para Hockey Cup falling 2-0 to the U.S.  in a tight gold medal game Saturday evening.

The Canadians and Americans waged two epic battles in the tournament. In the preliminary round, the U.S. won 2-1.  Canada’s new head coach Boris Rybalka was pleased with his troops who won their other three games last week.

They beat China 7-0 and Czechia 3-1 in the prelims and Czechia again 7-0 in the semis.

“We have taken some big steps since this team first got together in August, but now the real season starts when we gather again in Calgary in January,’’ said Rybalka, in reference to the next team training camp.  ‘’The next few months are going to be a lot of fun because our players and staff know how close the Paralympics are.

“I am proud of these guys and we are happy with our progress on the ice so far this season, but a few months of practice will be great for us as we look ahead to Milan.”

In the final, Corbin Watson (Kingsville, ON)was terrific in the Canadian goal, finishing with 16 saves.Brett Bolton opened the scoring for the Americans 8:05 into the opening period before Brody Roybal found the empty net in the final minute.

It should be noted that American superstar Declan Farmer who dominated the tournament with 18 points was blanked from the scoresheet and was assessed three penalties including a misconduct at the end of the game.

“Our forecheck is our bread and butter, and when we were strong on the forecheck we were a relentless team,’’ said captain Tyler McGregor (Forest, ON), Canada’s leading point getter and second overall with six goals and three assists.  ‘’We forced a lot of turnovers and created scoring opportunities from the forecheck, and we are thrilled with that. Moving forward, consistency and execution in big moments will be a key for us,”

Canada’s national Para hockey team hosts a pair of training camps in Canada ahead of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, with the team gathering in Calgary from Jan. 8-20 and Oakville, Ont., from Feb. 9-19.

Canada opens  its Paralympic schedule on March 7 against Slovakia, and takes on Germany and Czechia in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on March 15.

“We will be ready [for the Paralympics], and by the time March rolls around we will be ready to perform in Milan and represent Canada to the best of our ability,’’ added McGregor.

Liam Hickey of St. John’s was third in tournament scoring with eight points and Dominic Cozzolino of Mississauga, Ont,, followed with seven.

China beat Czechia 4-2 for the bronze.

Canada collects 12 medals at season opening Para cross country skiing World Cup

Natalie Wilike of Salmon Arm, B.C., and Madison Mullin of Fergus, Ont.,  won three silver medals apiece as Canada’s Para nordic skiers made it loud and clear they’ll be a powerhouse at the Paralympic Winter Games following the season opening  Para cross country skiing World Cup which concluded Sunday in Canmore, Alta.

Wilkie and Mullin respectively placed second in the women’s standing and women’s visually impaired 10 kilometre, sprint and mass start. Mullin’s guide was Brooke Ailey of Thunder Bay, Ont.

‘’It was a really great start to the season,’’ said Wilkie, a single pole skier with seven medals in her first two Paralympic Winter Games appearances including three gold. ‘’It was great to have it on home snow because we obviously know these race courses and it was awesome to have so many friends and family and a great support team around us.’’

Mullin and Ailey were the revelations of the weekend with their first international medals.

‘’It just shows that our teamwork is paying off,’’ said Mullin. ‘’We are growing together and learning to get better at communicating and knowing we can trust each other on the course.’’

Cameron, a six-time Paralympic Winter Games medallist who has missed most of the last two seasons due to illness and injury won silver medals in the men’s sitting 10 kilometre and sprint.

‘’There were a lot of emotions out there,’’ said Cameron, born with arthrogryposis. ‘’A year ago at this time I decided not to race because of injury and took time off to deal with that. There were times I wouldn’t make the start line again.

‘’To come here, home World Cup and hit the start line just brought me so much joy.’’

Twelve-time Paralympic Games medallist Mark Arendz of Hartsville, PEI, and Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta., won two bronze medals each in the men’s standing and men’s sitting10 kilometre and mass start.

Cameron was thrilled to share the podium with Zaplotinsky.

‘’That’s what it’s all about,’’ Cameron said. ‘’For both of us it was to go out and race hard and it’s great to do these things together. We’ve been racing side by side for 10 years so to share the podium is really special.’’

The Para biathlon World Cup event gets underway Thursday in Canmore.

Photos courtesy of Hockey Canada and Nordiq Canada