Para Hockey Cup Explained

Para Hockey Cup
Current Season:2023 Para Hockey Cup
Pixels:150px
Sport:Sledge hockey
Inaugural:2007
Most Champs: (10)
Website:World Sledge Hockey Challenge
Tv:TSN
Sponsor:Hockey Canada
IPC Sledge Hockey
Related Comps:World Para Ice Hockey Championships
Paralympics

The Para Hockey Cup, formerly the World Sledge Hockey Challenge (WSHC) and Canadian Tire Para Ice Hockey Cup is an annual international ice sledge hockey tournament sponsored by Hockey Canada and the IPC Sledge Hockey. The tournament is an invitational format to bring four of the strongest ice sledge hockey teams together for international competition.

The tournament features four teams per year and has seen teams from Canada, the United States, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Germany, China and the Czech Republic.

History

The tournament was created in 2007 by Hockey Canada. The idea behind the tournament was to give an opportunity for international level play during non-Paralympic years.

The inaugural 2007 tournament was hosted in Kelowna, British Columbia, and featured four teams – Canada, Norway, United States and Germany. Canada captured the inaugural tournament, by defeating Norway 1-0 in overtime in the gold medal game.

The 2008 tournament was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Japan replaced Germany. For the second straight year, Canada defeated Norway in the final. However, Canada dominated the final winning 7-0

In 2009, the United States won their first title. They defeated Canada in overtime 3-2 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. No tournament was held in 2010, owing to the 2010 Winter Paralympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia that year. Instead, two tournaments were held in 2011, in April in London, Ontario, Canada defeated Norway in the final 8-0. In the November tournament that year in Calgary, Alberta, Canada again captured Gold, defeating the United States 4-1 in the final. The 2012 tournament was held again in Calgary, Alberta and saw the United States capture their second gold, defeating Canada 1-0 in the final.

In 2013, the tournament saw a few changes, it was held in Toronto, Ontario for the first time and saw Russia and South Korea replace Japan and Norway in the tournament. South Korea was added in an attempt to help them gain experience before the 2018 Winter Paralympics are held there. Canada captured gold, by defeating the United States 4-1 in the final. Again owing to the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia no tournament was held. It returned in 2015 in Leduc, Alberta.

In 2018, the World Sledge Hockey Challenge was rebranded as the Para Hockey Cup. Sponsored by Canadian Tire, the tournament was officially known as the Canadian Tire Para Ice Hockey Cup.[1]

Champions

YearHost City
Kelowna, British Columbia[2]
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
2010 Not held due to 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, Canada
London, Ontario
Calgary, Alberta[3]
Calgary, Alberta[4]
Toronto, Ontario[5]
2014 Not held due to 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia
Leduc, Alberta[6]
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia[7]
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
London, Ontario[8]
Paradise, Newfoundland & Labrador
2020 Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[9] Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
2021 Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia[10]
Quispamsis, New Brunswick[11]

Medal table

align=left Country Gold Silver BronzeMedals
102315
59115
0347
0123
0033
0022
0000
0000
0000

All-time team records

Up to date as of December 2023

RankTeam GP WLOTLGFGA+/-
1675412130691+ 215
2675012531188+ 223
3321317273115- 42
42081115543- 12
529326031174- 143
6102801261- 49
723121122157- 135
8100911072- 62
94040524- 19

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World Sledge Hockey Challenge rebranded as Para Hockey Cup as Canadian Tire become title sponsor . . June 27, 2018 . December 5, 2023.
  2. Web site: CANADIAN TIRE PARA HOCKEY CUP GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK . Hockey Canada.
  3. http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Sledge/2011-WSHC-Calgary/Schedule-Results 2011 WSHC Schedule
  4. http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Sledge/2012-WSHC-Calgary/Schedule-Results 2012 WSHC Schedule
  5. http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/page/show/1044460-sledge-hockey-challenge-2013- 2013 WSHC Championship Schedule
  6. http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/schedule/league_instance/26372 2015 WSHC Schedule
  7. Web site: WSHC.
  8. http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/page/show/1044460-sledge-hockey-challenge-2018- 2018 WSHC Championship Schedule
  9. Web site: Hockey Canada statement announcing Fall 2020 event rescheduling . Hockey Canada . 27 September 2021.
  10. https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/men/para-hockey/2022-phc- 2023 Para Hockey Cup
  11. News: McGregor, Cozzolino lead Canada over China to open Para Hockey Cup in N.B. . 4 December 2023 . CBC News . 3 December 2023.