Five years ago, Vincent Boily spent his holidays in the hospital. This year, he did it again.

This time, however, it was to meet young patients who are living the same reality he was in 2017.

On Jan. 6, the National Para Hockey Team rookie visited the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant at CHU Sainte-Justine, the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal and the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine.

“It's about giving back and giving time to people, keeping them motivated,” says the 22-year-old. “It can be harder at this time of year. I've been in their shoes so I can understand how they feel. I try to give them a little boost and make them smile a little bit.”

On Dec. 26, 2017, Boily was involved in a snowmobile accident, which almost paralyzed him and ended his hopes of pursuing a professional hockey career.

“I stayed in the hospital until March,” says the Alma, Que., native. “For the first two weeks, I wasn't allowed to have visitors so I spent most of my holiday season alone. It made me realize how many other people were in the same situation. Normally this is a time of year when you are surrounded by family and joy. That year it was the opposite. It was very difficult mentally.”

On June 9th, a Paralympian Search event was held at INS Québec.
Vincent Boily's story is an inspiring one, as he is looking for a new sports dream. ==> Paralympian Search launches a new chapter in hockey player’s life: https://t.co/G6PrLHkW8x@CDNParalympics pic.twitter.com/DYkJrouuIV

— INS Québec (@INSQuebec) July 6, 2018

Over the years, Boily began to gain notoriety across Quebec for his story. His story is known well enough to have been contacted by a young man who was being treated at Sainte-Justine Hospital. The message he received only strengthened his resolve to reach out to people.

“One child in particular had texted me,” recalls Boily. “He was going through a very difficult time. He was an athlete before he got cancer. He texted me with the help of his parents to see if I could come and visit him during the holidays. It opened my mind and I thought that if I was going to see one person, I might as well try to see as many people as possible to share my story.”

Boily is getting used to the different questions the kids have when they meet him.

More often than not, the conversation eventually turns to hockey, which helps build a bond.

“When they see something wrong with me, they go straight to the point and ask me why I'm limping,” says Boily, who got his first taste of international hockey this season. “When they find out I'm on the National Para Hockey Team, they're very interested in that. There's a story of perseverance behind it. People are extremely touched because they can relate to their own situation. Even if they don't necessarily have to overcome such big obstacles, we can all learn from our different situations. Things usually work out great in the end.”

Of course, Boily is in a good position to tell young people that they should never feel sorry for themselves in life, no matter what happens.

That's the message he tried to deliver throughout his recent visits.

“The important thing is to remind all these young people that there are great things ahead for them,” Boily says. “To get where I am today, I had to believe in myself. It was hard at times, but I hung in there. I'm glad I've come this far to get to where I am now. Even if something happens to them, it's not the end of their story. They decide what chapters are left to be written.”

In addition to the children, Boily also took the opportunity to thank the health care staffs working at the various hospitals.

While the holiday season is about family for so many, the dedicated staffs sacrifice their moments of celebration to spend it with their patients.

“I experienced it when I was in the hospital,” Boily says. “I was always with great nurses. They were constantly taking care of me. It goes beyond their profession, and I think that's remarkable. Maybe some of the staff will recognize me. I want to show them that I am grateful for their dedication to me, but also to all the young people who are in hospitals now. If it wasn't for them, I might not be where I am today.”

GAME STATISTICS

Bridgewater, N.S. – Canada’s National Para Hockey Team earned a spot in the gold medal game of the 2022 Para Hockey Cup with a 7-0 win over Czechia on Thursday night.

• Liam Hickey (St. John’s, N.L.) and Dominic Cozzolino (Mississauga, Ont.) each had five-point nights, combining for two goals and eight assists.
• Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) scored a hat-trick and added an assist for a four-point night.
• Rob Armstrong (Erin, Ont.) scored his first goal of the tournament.
• James Dunn (Wallacetown, Ont.) rounded out the scoring for Canada.
• Mathieu Leliévre (Lévis, Que.), Anton Jacobs-Webb (Halifax, N.S.) and Zach Lavin (Essex, Ont.) all had assists.
• Jean-Francois Huneault (Saint-Eustache, Que.) made six saves for the shutout.
• Canada outshot Czechia 22-6

Other Game(s)

United States 11 – Italy 0

• Evan Nichols had a hat-trick for the United States.
• Brett Bolton scored twice, including his first career international goal on a penalty shot.
•  United States outshot Italy 31-2

Next games – Saturday, December 3:

•  Bronze Medal Game – Italy vs. Czechia – 12 p.m. AT
•  Gold Medal Game – Canada vs. United States - 4 p.m. AT

TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada will broadcast the medal round games. For more information visit TSN.ca/live.

Quotes:

“I liked how we stayed focused on our own end tonight. Sometimes guys can get looking for points in a game like this, but we took care of things defensively and stayed focused on all the little details”

- Head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, Ont.) on the game.

“We have a great opportunity here in front of us and I think we have to remember that. We’re just focused on what we can do, the little details and taking care of our own end and playing our game. You dream of these moments, and we’re excited.”

- Hickey on playing for gold.

“Every kid who plays hockey has dreamed of the opportunity to play for a gold medal on Canadian soil and beating the USA while doing it. The fans here have been amazing, our families have been here from the start and the town of Bridgewater has been so supportive. We’re all looking forward to the opportunity on Saturday.”

- Cozzolino on playing at home with support from Canadian fans.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca , or follow through social media onFacebook,Twitter and Instagram.

GAME STATISTICS

Bridgewater, N.S. – Canada’s National Para Hockey Team dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the United States in the final game of the preliminary round at the 2022 Para Hockey Cup on Wednesday night.

• Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) scored twice for the second-straight game.
• McGregor’s second goal was the 100^th international goal of his career.
• Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) assisted on both of McGregor’s goals.
• Jean-Francois Huneault (Saint-Eustache, Que.) made 20 saves.
• Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) scored the overtime winner for the United States 1:16 into the extra frame, on the powerplay.
•  United States outshot Canada 23-10

Other Game(s)

Czechia 3 – Italy 2

• Filip Vesely scored twice for Czechia.
• Pavel Kubes had a pair of assists for Czechia.
• Christopher Depaoli scored twice for Italy.
•  Czechia outshot Italy 23-4

Next games – Thursday, December 1:

•  Semi-Final #1 – Italy vs. United States – 3 p.m. AT
•  Semi-Final #2 - Czechia vs. Canada - 7 p.m. AT

Quotes:

“That was a terrific exhibition of what para hockey can be at the highest level. That was two teams, laying it all on the line tonight. When you see an effort like that, you are proud to be a part of this game.”

- Head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, Ont.) on the game.

“Down 2-0, the way we came back and battled through was exciting. If anything, we’re leaving today with a lot more belief than we had coming into the game, and I think the Americans are leaving with a little more doubt, and that’s exciting for us moving forward.”

- McGregor on the rivalry with the United States.

“Everybody was going tonight. We got better every shift, and it was fun to see everyone gelling and putting out that kind of effort. Both teams came with speed and so much physicality and it was a lot of fun to play like that. We know we can play at that pace and it’s important to follow that up tomorrow.”

- Tyrone Henry (Ottawa, Ont.) on carrying the energy into the semi-final.

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

GAME STATISTICS

Bridgewater, N.S. – Tyler McGregor’s four-point night lifted Canada’s National Para Hockey Team to a 5-0 win over Czechia at the Para Hockey Cup on Monday night.

• Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) scored twice and added two assists.
• Dominic Cozzolino (Mississauga, Ont.) had a goal and an assist.
• Rod Crane (Clarksburg, Ont.) scored his first goal of the tournament.
• Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) rounded out the scoring for Canada.
• Rob Armstrong (Erin, Ont.), Auren Halbert (Calgary, Alta.), Liam Hickey (St. John’s, N.L.) and goaltender Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) each recorded assists.
• Larocque and Jean-Francois Huneault (Saint-Eustache, Que.) combined to make six saves for the win, and a second-straight shutout.
• Canada outshot Czechia 19-6

Other Game(s)

United States 9 – Italy 2

• Brody Roybal scored twice for the United States.
• Nils Larch scored twice for Italy.
•  USA outshot Italy 25-6
  
  

Next games – Wednesday, November 30:

•  Italy vs. Czechia – 11:30 a.m. AT
•  United States vs. Canada - 7 p.m. AT

Quotes:

“Tonight, was an extremely physical game and we knew it would be. The Czech’s are a big, heavy team, and I was happy with how we hung in there, took hits to make plays and dished it out when it was necessary.”

- Head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, Ont.) on the physicality

“We were resilient tonight. Czechia put up a great fight, they were physical and had their chances. We did a good job of staying present and creating our offence from good defence. Our ability to regroup when mistakes happened really impressed me in this game. It was a great effort.”

- McGregor on Canada’s effort

“Every time we play them, it’s exciting. They are a talented team and are a top team in the world right now and we’re chasing that. If we take care of our game, we can be successful. Everyone in that room is excited.”

- Hickey on facing the Americans on Wednesday.

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

There have been a lot of big changes in Matteo Pellizzari’s life over the past seven months.

Back in April, the 15-year-old was playing for BC Hockey’s provincial para hockey team, with scrimmages twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturday. Now, he is working out daily and travelling across the country for training camps ahead of his international debut at the Para Hockey Cup in Bridgewater, N.S., as the youngest member of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team.

“It’s kind of been a whirlwind, but it’s been really good,” the Vancouver, B.C., native says.

Pellizzari was born without his fibulas in both of his legs—a rare condition called bilateral fibular hemimelia. He became a double-leg amputee from the knee down when he was one year old.

“It’s the only thing I’ve ever really known,” Pellizzarri says about being an amputee. “I honestly can’t imagine my life any other way.”

There have been many opportunities that Pellizzari has been able to pursue due to his amputations. He is actively involved in the War Amps Child Amputee Program (CHAMPS) and was previously featured in a War Amps commercial, brochures and on parade floats. As he got older, he started to volunteer for CHAMPS to give back to the program that has given him so much.

“They’ve made all the difference in my life. They’ve provided me with so many opportunities,” he says. “They pay for all my recreational prosthetics… they even actually paid for my first (para hockey) sled that I ever got that was custom made for me.”

The assistance from CHAMPS opened the door for Pellizzari to try playing multiple sports. He enjoys volleyball, running, swimming and golfing, but his true passion has always been para hockey. Pellizzari first got on the ice when he was four years old.

“I distinctly remember the first time I played. I felt like I was going so fast, it was so awesome,” he says. “I fell in love on day one, it was a love at first sight.”

At first, Pellizzari learned the fundamentals of para hockey with other kids his age. However, it quickly became evident that he had a natural talent for the sport, so he moved up to playing with the adult teams when he was nine years old.

“I started playing with 30-year-old, huge men that played for Team B.C. and I thought that was incredible,” the forward explains. “I was awestruck. I was definitely the worst on the ice.”

With the ceiling raised to set new goals in para hockey, Pellizzari continued to improve and excel in the sport. His talent also started to be noticed by members of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team. Veteran defenceman Adam Dixon first met Pellizzari at the Cruisers Cup in 2021.

“[Pellizzari] was connected to Greg Westlake, the former captain and one of my best friends, and Greg said, ‘Hey, come meet this kid, he’s a pretty cool guy,’” Dixon says. “Obviously it took a lot of dedication to fly in from B.C. to play in a tournament in Mississauga for a weekend.”

In April, Pellizzari was invited to his first NextGen Para Hockey Development Camp in Montreal, where Dixon served as a mentor for the participants.

“That was when I really got to spend a lot of time with him,” Dixon explains. “Obviously, with him being a double-leg amputee, I think he is a very good player. He has it all figured out… he’s already the best kid in B.C.”

“As soon as I went to NextGen camp, that really opened my eyes (to the) possibilities that I have in the sport,” Pellizzari adds. “It was really exciting for me. It was so incredible seeing how Hockey Canada organizes these events.”

One thing that stood out to Dixon was Pellizzari’s willingness to learn and not being afraid to ask questions in order to understand every piece of advice. Working with Pellizzari also reminded Dixon of his experience joining Canada’s National Para Hockey Team when he was 17.

“The people that I had watched on TV—Brad Bowden, Billy Bridges, Greg Westlake—all of a sudden went from being my heroes to now my teammates, and it was so funny being reminded of that,” he says.

“He was using Greg Westlake’s sticks that Greg had given him, and he had never retaped them because he didn’t want to take off the tape that Greg had put on there. I cut the tape off his sticks and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to learn how to tape our sticks today.’ (It’s) all those little things that I remember being young and being a fan of the sport, and I can see that in him.”

After an impressive showing at NextGen camp, Pellizzari was invited to selection camp for Canada’s National Para Hockey Team in September.

“Before tryouts happened, [Pellizzari’s] dad actually tracked me down on Facebook and had me call him, and just asked for me to look out for him,” Dixon says. “When he got there, he didn’t need anyone looking out for him.

“He’s so mature. He’s so open to everything. He hasn’t really played high-level hockey at all, so everything that we’re giving him, he has to soak it up and he soaks it up so well. He understands it and he applies it, and I think that’s a pretty impressive trait.”

By the end of selection camp, Pellizzari had earned a spot on the national team roster—a feat that took him completely by surprise.

“I was thinking this is really cool that they’re even considering me for this,” Pellizzari says. “I was super excited just to play at the highest level in Canada, and then all of a sudden I made the team and that was mind-blowing.”

As the youngest member of Team Canada, Pellizzari says all his veteran teammates have been welcoming to him and offer him advice, but his connection with Dixon has stood out. Dixon also considers Pellizzari to be one of his best friends on the team.

“Adam Dixon, he’s been a mentor right since NextGen camp. [He’s been] super helpful [as I’ve been] finding my way to Team Canada,” Pellizzari says. “I think that playing with all these veterans is going to provide me with a lot of insight for what I can look forward to.”

What’s it like to balance being a member of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team while in high school? Well, Pellizzari says he’s still trying to figure that out and takes it one day at a time. He has worked with his high school so he can complete his workout requirements for Team Canada instead of taking a physical education class.

But as Dixon discovered, the young forward has the work ethic needed to keep up in school and keep up in his para hockey training.

“I was his roommate [at the] last [training] camp, and the kid, all he did was homework. He’s so responsible,” Dixon says. “For [my] first year, I would pack all my textbooks from high school, put them in my backpack and fly around with them, and they would stay in my backpack. I’d never open them.”

The 2022 Para Hockey Cup will be Pellizzari’s international debut with Team Canada, and he will have a big group of fans cheering him on. His family will be travelling across the country to Bridgewater, N.S., to see him wear the Maple Leaf for the first time.

“Without my family and my friends, I think that I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today. They’ve made all the difference,” he says. “They’ve really set me up for success and they’ve been super encouraging for me.”

Looking to the future, Pellizzari hopes his experience with Team Canada will give him the opportunity to continue to grow the game in his home province and across the country. As one of several new players to Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, he is looking forward to growing as a player with his teammates over the next four years.

“This is really special because there’s so many young players and we’re building Team Canada this year for the next Paralympics. We’re starting from the beginning, and I’m really excited to be a part of that.”

GAME STATISTICS

Bridgewater, N.S. – Six different players from Canada’s National Para Hockey Team had multi-point games as Canada opened the 2022 Para Hockey Cup with an 8-0 win over Italy on Sunday night.

• James Dunn (Wallacetown, Ont.) recorded a hat-trick for Canada and added an assist.
• Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) scored twice.
• Jacob Leblanc (Moncton, N.B.) scored his first international goal and added an assist.
• Corbyn Smith (Monkton, Ont.) scored once and added an assist.
• Dominic Cozzolino (Mississauga, Ont.), Auren Halbert (Calgary, Alta.) and Anton Jacobs-Webb (Halifax, N.S.) picked up two assists each.
• Zach Lavin (Essex, Ont.) rounded out the scoring for Canada.
• Rob Armstrong (Erin, Ont.), Vincent Boily (Alma, Que.), and Liam Hickey (St. John’s, N.L.) all recorded assists.
• Jean-François Huneault (Saint-Eustache, Que.) and Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) combined to make eight saves for the shut out.
•  Canada’s 48 shots on goal set a new Para Hockey Cup record for most shots in a game by one team.
•  Canada outshot Italy 48-8

Other Game(s)

United States 10 – Czechia 0

• Declan Farmer had a hat-trick and two assists.
• Ben Musselman scored twice and added two assists.
•  USA outshot Czechia 34 - 9

Next games – Monday, November 28:

•  United States vs. Italy – 11:30 a.m. AT
•  Canada vs. Czechia - 7 p.m. AT

Quotes:

“One of the things I love about this group of veterans is that they have never forgotten how important that first international goal is, and it shows that they are really pulling for the young guys to get on the board. I’m glad this team can celebrate those successes and I think that’s what makes this such a tight group.”

- Head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, Ont.) on the celebration of Leblanc’s first NPT goal.

“I was so excited to be back playing on home ice. It’s been a long time since we’ve been in Canada. To play in front of our fans and hear them cheering us on gave everyone in that room a boost today. It was a great win by the group.”

- Dunn on the tournament-opening win.

“I thought we put together a solid effort tonight. It’s a special feeling being on home ice, and I think the guys fed off it. Credit to their goalie, he made a lot of saves in the first period, but we stuck with it and knew that he can’t stop them all. We didn’t stray from our game, and they started to go in.”

- Smith on Canada firing 20 shots on Italy’s net in the first period.

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

CALGARY, Alta. – With less than a week until the puck drops at the 2022 Para Hockey Cup, Hockey Canada has announced Canada’s National Para Hockey Team for the event, Nov. 27–Dec. 3 at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater, N.S.

Two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 11 forwards were selected by head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, Ont./York University, OUA), Marshall Starkman (Thornhill, Ont.), manager of hockey operations, and Tyler Dietrich (West Vancouver, B.C.), director of men’s national teams. Assistant coaches Mike Foligno (Sudbury, Ont.) and Mike Fountain (Gravenhurst, Ont.) also provided input.

“We are excited to bring this group to Bridgewater to represent Canada on home soil,” said Herrington. “Our players have been learning as a group what it takes to become Team Canada since our first day together and we want to build off a solid performance in Ostrava in September. To be coming home to play in Nova Scotia is going to be a great experience. The fans and the community have proven in our previous visits to Bridgewater to be avid supporters of the Para program and we can’t wait to get on the ice.”

The roster includes 17 players who won a silver medal at the International Para Hockey Cup in September (Armstrong, Auclair, Boily, Cozzolino, Crane, Dunn, Halbert, Henry, Hickey, Huneault, Jacobs-Webb, Kovacevich, Lavin, LeBlanc, Lelievre, McGregor, Smith), as well as three players that did not participate in Ostrava (Dixon, Larocque, Pellizzari). It also includes 10 players who won a silver medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China (Armstrong, Crane, Dixon, Dunn, Hickey, Henry, Jacobs-Webb, Larocque, Lavin, McGregor).

Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will open the 2022 Para Hockey Cup against Italy on Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. AT. It will also take on Czechia on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. AT and its cross-border rival, the United States, on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. AT to round out preliminary-round action. The tournament schedule wraps up on Dec. 3 with the bronze and gold medal games at 12 p.m. AT and 4 p.m. AT, respectively.

TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, will broadcast the gold medal game on Dec. 3; please check local listings for details. All other tournament games are available via livestream at HockeyCanada.ca.

Fans looking to secure their seat for the 2022 Para Hockey Cup can purchase a full-event ticket package now at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets. The package includes one ticket to all 10 games, including both medal games, for as low as $74.74 plus fees for youth and $91.99 plus fees for adults.

The Para Hockey Cup returns for the first time since 2019 after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was last hosted in Paradise, N.L., and makes its return to Bridgewater for the first time since 2017.

For more information on Hockey Canada, the 2022 Para Hockey Cup and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

GAME STATISTICS

OSTRAVA, Czechia – Canada’s National Para Hockey Team earned a silver medal at the 2022 International Para Hockey Cup, falling 4-0 to the United States in the gold medal game in Ostrava, Cze., on Friday night.

Griffin LeMarre earned the shutout en route to the United States’ gold medal at the tournament. The win caps off a perfect 5-0 record for the Americans at the event.

“The effort today was tremendous,” said head coach Russ Herrington (Unionville, Ont.) “We did a great job of focusing on what we could control, and for the most part everyone played their best game of the tournament. We came with some confidence and we put ourselves in a position to have a good outcome, unfortunately the score just didn’t reflect that.”

Canada finished with a 3-2 record, with the only two losses coming at the hands of their American rivals.

Jean-François Huneault (Saint-Eustache, Que.) turned aside 20 shots for Canada, while Zach Lavin (Essex, Ont.) led all Canadian skaters with 22:22 of ice time.

“I’m proud of the way we stayed present and stay focused on the task at hand, and to me that was the biggest area of growth over the course of the last month,” Herrington said. “We have a lot of new players, and this was a valuable experience, playing games in a terrific atmosphere. There are a lot of positives here, especially considering the limited time we’ve had together as a group.”

Team IPH (Germany, Norway and Slovakia) captured the bronze medal with a 3-2 win over Czechia earlier in the day.

Canada’s National Para Hockey Team now turns their attention to the 2022 Para Hockey Cup , Nov 27–Dec 3, in Bridgewater, N.S. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $57.50 for all 10 games. Click here to purchase your package.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2022 International Para Hockey Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the format and schedule for the 2022 Para Hockey Cup, which will be hosted in Bridgewater, N.S., from Nov. 27-Dec. 3. It will be the first time the tournament has been held since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will be joined by Czechia, Italy and the United States at the tournament, which is being played for the 14th time. Each team will play three preliminary-round games, with Canada and the U.S. facing off in a rematch of the Paralympic gold medal game to close out the prelims on Nov. 30.

The semifinals will be played Dec. 1, with the bronze medal and gold medal games set for Dec 3.

“On behalf of our host organizing committee and community, we are incredibly excited to have the Para Hockey Cup returning to Bridgewater,” said Kent Walsh, general manager of the Lunenberg Country Lifestyle Centre, which will host all 10 games. “It was an electrifying event in 2016, and these incredible athletes left a lasting impression on us. We cheered for Team Canada at the Paralympics last year and are thrilled to get the chance to see the next chapter play out at our facility.”

Tickets are on sale now, starting at $57.50 for all 10 games. CLICK HERE to purchase your package.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will provide coverage of the 2022 Para Hockey Cup gold medal game. Broadcast details for all other games will be announced prior to the tournament.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.