Sportswave has covered various sports but one that we haven’t covered is the sport of Blind Hockey which Sportswave live streamed all three games which attracted fans from as far away as Finland.
The three day, three game tournament hit the ice in Richmond at the Minoru Arena the home of the Richmond Sockeyes who are one of sixteen teams in the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
The free event features game one was set for Friday morning at 10 AM October 18th with the remaining pair scheduled for Saturday and Sunday both for a noon face-off.
The tournament is a celebration for the growth of Para Sport across BC with two new teams named the Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey & the Victoria Blind Hockey Teams.
The 2025 Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament presented by the CNIB Foundation returns to Metro Vancouver with three games on tap with the first played in front of various schools in Richmond with two teams competing in a best-of-three series with players drafted from across Western Canada and Ontario.
Canadian Blind Hockey’s Vancouver-based Executive Director Matt Morrow mentioned “Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to see so much momentum in BC with our new Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey Team entering its second season and our brand-new expansion program in Victoria which begins in late October,”
He continued “This is a milestone event for us as it’s the fifth Western Regionals but the very first time we’ve had players representing all four provinces in Western Canada.
There are now eight Blind Hockey teams across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba which really shows the tremendous growth of Blind Hockey across the country”.
During the event Canadian Blind Hockey will be hosting our Try Blind Hockey Field-Trip program for students from across the lower mainland to try the Para sport.
The event also serves to officially launch the 2025 – 26 Canadian Blind Hockey program season with the first Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey Team practice and will include a very special major partnership announcement.
2025 Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament Schedule:
Friday October 17 10:00am 10:15am
Opening Ceremonies 10:00am 12:00pm
Western Regionals Game #1 1:00pm 2:00pm Children and Youth Try Blind Hockey Session
Saturday October 18 12:00pm 2:00pm Western Regionals
Game #2 2:00pm 3:00pm Vancouver Jr Blind Hockey Team Practice
Sunday October 19 12:00pm 2:00pm Western Regionals
Game #3 Arena address: Minoru Arena,
The Para sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes who are blind or partially sighted with approximately 10% vision or less – using an adapted puck that is larger than a traditional puck and that makes noise.
The hometown Vancouver Eclipse Blind Hockey Team is made up of players from across the lower-mainland and will be sending a dozen players from Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, New Westminster, and Abbotsford.
Program Director Luca DeMontis “It’s important for Canadian Blind Hockey to continue hosting regional events in different communities to give local Blind Hockey players the chance to play at home and attract new players who may have never heard of Blind Hockey or didn’t realize they could still play hockey with low vision”.
He continued “We hope the Metro Vancouver community will show up to cheer these players on and learn more about the Para sport and hopefully introduce the game to some potential new players.”
In addition to the hosts, players have been drafted from a dozen teams including the Calgary Seeing Ice Dogs, the Central Alberta Bullseye, the Edmonton SeeHawks, the Camrose Canines, the Saskatoon Puck Bandits, and new yet to be named teams in Victoria, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Chicago.
Canadian Blind Hockey programs are supported nationally by the CNIB Foundation, the Daniel Family Foundation, Electra Health, and Manion.
Programs in BC are supported by the Vancouver Canucks and Canucks for Kids Fund.
The Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament was funded in part by a grant from viaSport BC and the Province of British Columbia, and is supported by community partners Richmond Sport Hosting and the Richmond Sockeyes.
About Canadian Blind Hockey:
Canadian Blind Hockey is a charity that changes the lives of children, and youth who are blind or partially sighted by providing Blind Hockey programming including: introductory try-it sessions, development camps, regional and national competitions, and by supporting the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team.
Canadian Blind Hockey proudly operates 12 teams across Canada and hosts at least four major events annually including our flagship Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament which is set to return for its 12th year from March 20 to 22, 2026 at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
From the Sportswave Team it was indeed a pleasure to work with the Canadian Blind Hockey and live streamed the event.
Continued Success in a sport that is gaining popularity and scoring points with the general public.
Advertise With Sportswave
About Sportswave
SICAMOUS HOUSEBOATS
Delta Islanders Jr. A Lacrosse
North Delta Business Association
