Stars on Ice

Members of the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation are looking forward to honing their already very fine skills on the ice this year. Many of the players have already made their international mark in hockey, having won gold medals at two consecutive Winter Deaflympic Games.

The Deaflympics, similar to the Olympics and Paralympics, are held every four years and encompass both summer and winter events. The 15th Winter Deaflympic Games were held in Sundsvall, Sweden in 2003. Canada played five games of hockey at the event – against Russia, Sweden, Finland, Germany and the United States – and won all of them. Canada’s is the first team to win the gold medal at two consecutive Deaflympics.

Last November, Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation’s Roy Hysen (general manager of the Canadian Deaflympic Ice Hockey Team) and secretary Patti Trofimenkoff paid a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. They donated the #27 team jersey worn by veteran Mark Couture, his game stick and the Deaflympic gold medal.

In Canada there are now many leagues for the more than 5,000 deaf hockey players across the country. Roy Hysen of Mississauga, Ontario, was a Junior A and Junior B goaltender for Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League teams years ago, and has worked for almost three decades at developing opportunities for hockey players who are deaf.

The next Canada Deaf Ice Hockey Championship will be held in 2006 in Alberta – the top prize is the Roy Hysen Cup. The next Winter Deaflympics will be held in Park City, Utah, close to the site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Visit the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation website at www.cdihf.deafhockey.com.