The Washington team get some ice time donated

Winter Paralympics berth the dream for Blind Ice Hockey organisers

With the Winter Paralympics underway in canada goose outlet store calgary Pyeongchang https://www.canadagoosejacketsoutsale.com , we take a look at an increasingly popular sport that hopes to become part of the Games in the future.

canada goose deals The first Winter Paralympics took place in Sweden in 1976 and consisted of just two sports, alpine skiing and cross country skiing. canada goose deals

cheap Canada Goose The Games have expanded over the years, and the Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics will feature 80 events across six different sports. But Matt Morrow, executive director at Blind Ice Hockey Canada, hopes canada goose outlet store uk to one day see his sport featured at the Winter Paralympics. cheap Canada Goose

canada goose black friday sale "Blind Ice Hockey has been played in Canada since the 1970s," he told Sky Sports. canada goose black friday sale

There are six major Blind Ice Hockey tournaments in North America

canada goose store "The Toronto Ice Owls had their 45th anniversary last season but it was never organised at a canada goose outlet niagara falls national canada goose outlet in canada level. Teams played using different adapted pucks and different rules. canada goose store

"It canada goose outlet in montreal was in 2010 that the leadership, three of the main clubs, myself and some other people got canada goose outlet woodbury together and canada goose coats uk decided to have a meeting and say we need to buy canada goose uk get this sport on the same page.

buy canada goose jacket cheap "We needed to have some tournaments, so people can play against each other. That was the turning point for the sport going from being a recreational game to an actual para sport. buy canada goose jacket cheap

Canada Goose Parka "I'm the only staff person the organisation has ever had. I've been working for Blind Ice Hockey for 10 years now and four years ago we started working with some American players to try to bring the sport down to the States (USA), and at that point we formed the International Blind Ice canada goose jacket outlet sale Hockey Federation with the goal of creating the World Championships and maybe one day competing in the Paralympic Games." Canada Goose Parka

Team GB have 17 canada goose outlet montreal athletes competing at the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang

Canada Goose Outlet There are six major blind hockey events every year in North America. The Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament is up next, between March 29 March and April, at Maple Leaf Gardens, the former home of NHL team the Toronto Maple Leafs. Canada Goose Outlet

Now in its sixth year, between 75 and 85 players from across North America are expected to take canada goose outlet eu part.

canada goose coats "Everyone gets a chance to play with and against people at their level canada goose outlet ," said Morrow. canada goose coats

buy canada canada goose outlet los angeles goose jacket "At adult level, the canada goose outlet houston youngest tend to be teenagers [and] just for safety they need to be canada goose outlet in vancouver big enough to play with adults. buy canada goose jacket

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The youngest we've ever had in the adult division is 14. Our oldest players are in their early 80s, so the sport truly is a sport for life. Most players are in their 20s, 30s and 40s."

Canada Goose Jackets The USA Hockey Disabled Festival in San Jose, California takes place a few days canada goose outlet in chicago later and Oxfordshire 29 year old Nathan Tree will be the first person from outside of North America to compete in the tournaments. Canada Goose Jackets

canadian goose jacket He said: "Toronto is the epicentre of hockey and I've loved hockey since I was 11. I get to play in an old NHL rink which used to be the Toronto Maple Leafs rink. canadian goose jacket

canada goose "I get to go and see where it all happens, I'm going to go to the NHL Hall of fame and I'm hoping to see an NHL game whilst I'm there." canada goose

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Canada Goose online He explained: "Recently we've done a lot of stuff with the NHL Hockey is for everyone initiative. In terms of generating awareness. Other canada goose outlet factory than that, it's on a club by club basis. Some of canada goose vest outlet the clubs really do have canada goose jacket outlet store tremendous support. Probably the best one is the Pittsburgh Penguins. They fund their blind hockey team. The Chicago blind hockey team get ice time donated and some other things. The Washington team get some ice time donated. We're trying to build these relationships and access more funding that way." Canada Goose online

Morrow highlighted how the sport receives some support from NHL teams, canada goose outlet shop but he hopes to strengthen these relationships in the future.

When asked about his hopes for the future of the sport, Morrow said: "Sometime in the next year we'll probably have the first ever USA v Canada match. From that point there we're really hoping to spurn interest and some European nations starting teams.

"We want to have a four nations cup in 2020 and ultimately see if we can get enough people on board to have a World Championships and apply for the Paralympic games."Take a look at this guide to Blind Ice Hockey, courtesy of Canadian Blind Ice Hockey.

How the game is played

canada goose clearance Blind Hockey is played by visually impaired players who must be classified as eligible in one of the three International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) classifications ranging from B1 to B3. canada goose clearance

Canada Goose sale B1 players have canada goose outlet toronto location the least vision, while B3 players have the most vision. The game is played using custom three foot high nets rather than the traditional four foot nets to keep the puck low and near the ice so it can make noise and be tracked aurally Canada Goose sale.