World Para Ice Hockey Championship to get underway in Moose Jaw

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For the first time ever, Canada is set to host the World Para Ice Hockey Championship.

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And it all begins in Moose Jaw on Sunday.

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The 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship will feature eight teams from around the world. Canada will be in Group A, alongside Czechia, Korea and the United States. Group B will feature China, Germany, Italy and Norway. After a round robin, the top two teams will earn a bye to the semifinals and the bottom two teams in each pool will advance to the quarterfinals.

Action gets underway on Sunday at 11 a.m. as Czechia takes on Korea. Canada begins round robin play on Monday night at 7 p.m. against Korea, with all games being played at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. The gold medal game is set for June 4 at 7 p.m.

“I’m really excited to play on home soil,” said Team Canada defenceman Rob Armstrong, a product of Erin, Ont. “I think it’s really special to not just have our friends and family coming, but to represent the people in the stands as well.”

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After its opening game against Korea, Canada will take on Czechia on Tuesday (7 p.m.) before taking on the United States on Wednesday (7 p.m.) in a rematch of the 2022 Paralympic gold medal game, which was won by the Americans 5-0. In fact, the United States enters this event as the two-time defending world champions.

“For us, that’s the marquee matchup,” said Armstrong. “We like to consider ourselves the No. 1 and 2 in the world.

“It will be the toughest game. The most fun game. And I hope the Moose Jaw people can come and experience that.”

Since the inaugural world championships in 1996, Canada has brought home 10 medals, which is the most among any country. The Americans hold the record for most gold medals with five. Canada is right behind them with four golds, having last won it all in 2017.

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“I feel like every tournament there’s a hungry taste (to win),” said Armstrong. “And we know who we probably have to beat at the end and it will probably be our neighbours to the south.”

And this tournament is not only the first time Canada has hosted the world championships, but also the biggest para hockey event played in our country in more than 13 years.

“This is easily the biggest tournament Canada has ever hosted outside of the 2010 Paralympics,” said Armstrong. “And this is the biggest one I’ve competed in on Canadian soil.”

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