Benoit St-Amand

Benoit St-Amand helped the Canadian sledge hockey team to the bronze medal at the 2014 Paralympic Games to cap a 10-year career with the national squad. St-Amand announced his retirement from Team Canada a few months later in October 2014.

He made the Canadian national sledge hockey team, initially as a forward in 2004. A leg amputee since 1995, he was inspired to try the sport after watching Canada compete at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. During his second season, the team was looking for a back-up goalkeeper so he volunteered and served as a replacement at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin. Those Games turned out to be the biggest highlight of his career to date, as Canada won the gold medal. While St-Amand only played in 30 minutes in Turin, his playing time has increased ever since, ensuring solid goaltending for Canada at international tournaments. St-Amand has also represented Canada at four IPC World Championships, earning gold in 2008 and 2013.

After many chemotherapy treatments and operations, St-Amand had his right leg amputated above the knee in 1995 after he was diagnosed with a malignant tumour on his right tibia two years earlier at age 15. It was a tough decision for St-Amand, but he was anxious to get back to an active lifestyle. The experience taught him to think and act positively, living his life one day at a time.

St-Amand speaks regularly to businesses and schoolchildren in Canada as part of the RBC Olympians community ambassador program. His goal is to show children how potentially tragic experiences, such as having cancer and losing a limb, can be turned into positive outcomes.