While hosting the 19th annual London Blizzard Sledge Hockey Tournament, organizers are already looking ahead to next year’s special anniversary.
“We have had some setbacks after COVID, as we used to have more than 40 teams in our tournament,” said Jody Goldhawk, the tournament’s organizer. “Next year being the 20th, we’re going to have to start planning a lot earlier and trying to get some more teams and ramp it up.”
This year’s edition has 37 teams from across North America, with teams coming from Edmonton, Montreal, Ohio, and Philadelphia.
“It’s fun to get to travel internationally,” said Olivia Chaves, making her fourth trip to this tournament from Philadelphia. “I love getting to go to Canada and kind of see things that you can’t see at home. It’s fun to see the same people every year and everyone is so nice up here. The Canadians have a reputation for a reason.”
Chaves has Mitochondrial Myopathy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy, which makes her muscles weak very quickly.
“Sledge hockey is perfect because it allows me to be able to go around when I’m sitting down, which means that it doesn’t aggravate my heart very much because I’m sitting down. I’m able to go really fast without a lot of muscle power because the ice is so smooth,” said Chaves.
The Philadelphia Hammerheads play in the Intermediate A division, and their captain calls this “the best competition outside of the U.S.”
Captain Tim Jones has spina bifida and a disability in his lower legs.
“This sport has allowed me to be able to go to two different Paralympics for the U.S. team, and I’ve been to three different world championships. I mean, it’s been a blast playing this sport,” he said.
Around the rink during the tournament, it’s all smiles.
This weekend, the Western Fair Sports Centre is a place where kids and adults with disabilities can just be hockey players. While their peers are playing in hockey tournaments and staying in hotels, they can now do the same.
“The best part was this morning I saw somebody walking down the hall like, hey, I haven’t seen you,” said Goldhawk. “This is a meeting place for people. You tend to know these teams because you saw them last year and now you’re getting to see them again. To see those smiles and those reconnections of the socialness in the game too, it’s been great.”
This tournament also gives local teams a chance to face new competition.
The Elgin Imperial Club have reached the championship game Sunday afternoon.
For second-year player Breydon Lumley, this sport has changed his life.
“I had bone cancer, so I got my foot amputated,” said the 20 year old from St. Thomas. “I used to play hockey, and I didn’t think I’d ever play hockey again. It’s nice to be back on the ice, especially after not knowing if I’d play hockey ever again.”
And not only is he playing, he’s on track to become a rising star. Lumley scored four times in a 5-1 win over the Sarnia Ice Hawks in the championship game. He never knew if he’d play competitive sports again, and now he’s a champion.
