December 15, 2020 (St. John’s, NL) – Despite Team Canada losing the final of the 2019 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Challenge, local sledge hockey players came out winners as a result of the prestigious event played at the Paradise Double Ice Complex.

 

The four team, ten game tournament was an overwhelming success at the Box Office, setting a tournament record for attendance, which included sell outs for all of Team Canada’s games. Featuring the national para teams representing Canada, Russia, Czech Republic and the United States, the Gold Medal was won by the Americans in a hotly contested 2-1 win over their long-time arch rivals from Canada.

 

The tournament was a homecoming for Paralympic silver medalist Liam Hickey (@liamhickey1998), who got his start in the game with the Avalon Sled Dogs. The St. John’s native emerged as one of Team Canada’s leaders, both on and off the ice as the team’s unofficial host while the team was in Newfoundland. “Losing the Final to the US is never a great feeling, but the opportunity to play in front of family and friends in Paradise was a dream come true,” said Hickey.

 

According to Tournament Chair Don Dyke, “As a result of the hard work of the Local Organizing Committee volunteers, tournament major sponsors Hickman Chevrolet and Johnson Insurance, the Town of Paradise, Hockey NL and the tremendous support of local fans, a financial legacy in excess of fifty thousand dollars was created. “These much-needed revenues will be 100% reinvested back into the sport through increased access to ice time, purchase of much needed equipment and marketing initiatives to grow the game”, commented Avalon Sled Dogs (@NLSledge) President Kurtis Baggs.

 

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

For more information or to get involved, please contact:

Kurtis Baggs

President

Avalon Sled Dogs

[email protected]

 

 

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