CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the 19 players who will wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Para Hockey Team at the International Para Hockey (IPH) Cup, Oct. 20-26 in Ostrava, Czechia.
Three goaltenders, six defencemen and 10 forwards were selected by head coach Boris Rybalka (Vernon, BC) and Adam Janssen (Richmond Hill, ON) , manager of hockey operations. Assistant coach Steve Arsenault (Spruce Grove, AB), goaltending coach Dominic Larocque (Québec, QC), and skills and video coach Dean Seymour (Calgary, AB) also provided input. “This is an exciting time for our program,” said Rybalka. “Our staff and players have been working hard since the world championship in Buffalo last spring to get prepared for the 2025-26 season. We know this is just the beginning of the journey to the 2026 Paralympic Games, and we’re excited to grow, get better and develop as a group while facing four tough opponents in Czechia.”
The roster features 14 players who won a gold medal at the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship in Calgary (Armstrong, Boily, Burnett, Cozzolino, Dixon, Dunn, Halbert, Henry, Jacobs-Webb, Kingsmill, Kovacevich, Lelièvre, McGregor, Watson) . The roster also includes forward Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) , who announced on Aug. 21 that he was ending his retirement and returning to the ice this season with his sights set on a sixth appearance at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2026.
Canada opens its schedule at the IPH Cup against the United States at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT on Oct. 20. It will also face the host Czechs (Oct. 21), China (Oct. 23) and Italy (Oct. 24) in preliminary-round play with the medal games on Oct. 26.
Hockey Canada also announced the support staff that will travel to Ostrava:
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook , X, Instagram and TikTok.