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Hockey games at the Moncton Coliseum over the weekend proved that one does not require vision to play the world’s fastest team sport.
Over 30 players from across the country participated in the three-game series between two teams at the Eastern Regional Blind Hockey Tournament. The tournament was held in New Brunswick for the first time ever. The squads included players from all four Atlantic provinces.
Player Simon Richard of Moncton, N.B. said not many people are aware of the existence of blind hockey, and he wants the growing sport to make it into the Paralympics.
“Just knowing it’s a thing, is a big deal,” he told CBC News.
“It’s not an easy game to play at first for sure.”
The tournament was organized by the CNIB foundation, a non-profit organization that empowers and advocates for the blind.
Richard said the game uses a special metal puck, which is about three times bigger than the traditional hockey puck. The players have 10 per cent vision or less, while the goalies have no vision at all, he said.
Each player tracks the puck through its sound.
“The nets are about a foot shorter … there’s no hitting, it’s very fast,” said Richard.
“It’s very close to the traditional game, so it’s an awesome sport.”
Richard, who is also on Canada’s national team, said the competence of all the players at the Moncton tournament is high, which added more fun to the games over the weekend.
“[There’s] a lot of skill out there. [The] goalies are really good too,” he said.
John Quilty’s grandson, Aidan Quilty, was playing for Team Yellow, against Richard’s Team Black.
The grandfather said he doesn’t get to see Aidan play often, but because the tournament was in Moncton, he was able to make the drive from Nova Scotia this time around.
“It was an opportunity,” he said. “It’s a great experience to come and watch him.”
He said watching the national sport be so inclusive is a great sign of things to come.
“We never really thought that he would ever play any sports, and it is amazing what the blind hockey has done for all of these kids,” said Quilty.
Matt Morrow, executive director of Canadian Blind Hockey said when someone hears the term blind hockey they may think it is a heavily modified, slower game.
However, that is not the case, he said.
“When you come out here and you see these elite athletes competing at this level, it’s the same game that we all know and love.”
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