30 players invited to Canada's National Para Hockey Team evaluation camp

Thirty players will begin the 2023-24 season at Canada’s National Para Hockey Team evaluation camp in Calgary.

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada has announced the 30 players who will attend Canada’s National Para Hockey Team evaluation camp, set for Sept. 2-9 at the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary.

Four goaltenders, nine defencemen and 17 forwards were selected by head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, ON/York University, OUA) and Marshall Starkman (Thornhill, ON), manager of hockey operations. Assistant coaches Scott Walker (Cambridge, ON) and Mike Fountain (Gravenhurst, ON) also provided input.

“We are looking forward to kicking off a new season and bringing this hard-working group together at our evaluation camp in Calgary,” Herrington said. “This camp will allow us the opportunity to continue to build off a strong performance at the World Para Hockey Championship last June as we look ahead to competition this season.”

The roster features 16 players who won a silver medal at the 2023 World Para Hockey Championship in Moose Jaw, SK (Armstrong, Boily, Cozzolino, Crane, Dunn, Dixon, Halbert, Henry, Huneault, Jacobs-Webb, Kovacevich, Lavin, LeBlanc, McGregor, Tousignant, Smith) and eight who won a silver medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China (Armstrong, Crane, Dunn, Henry, Jacobs-Webb, Kingsmill, Lavin, McGregor).

“We’re excited for the start of our evaluation camp and to begin year two of the quadrennial following an incredible first year,” Starkman said. “Our veteran leadership will continue to push the level of play to our younger athletes in preparation to represent Canada in international competition this year.”

Following camp, Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will head to Ostrava, Czechia to compete for gold at the 2023 International Para Hockey Cup, Oct. 2-8. The season schedule also includes the 2023 Para Hockey Cup, scheduled for Dec. 3-9 in Quispamsis, NB.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.