Team Canada blind hockey team defends title with kids’ support

Mar 30, 2023 | Sports

The Mattamy Athletic Centre spectators’ stands were filled with 1,700 energetic school kids on March 24 for the Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament.

Students packed the stands and prepared signs to support Team Canada in their game against Team USA.

O Canada rang through the crowd proudly.

A kid showed a handmade sign written "Go Team Canada" in the 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Mattamy Athletic Centre.
A kid showed a handmade sign written “Go Team Canada” in the 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Mattamy Athletic Centre. Photo credit: Krystal Yeung

Francois Beauregard, a defenseman for Team Canada, said he was shivering because of the resounding rendition of the national anthem.

Team Canada defeated their American counterparts 11-0, maintaining its streak of zero losses to Team USA.

Beauregard, who has been playing blind hockey for 17 years, said it was great to win and they played the right way.

He said they usually have around 200 fans in the stands, so the turnout of fans at the tournament was impressive.

Joe Fornasier, another player for Team Canada, said he was grateful for the kids who came to watch.

“They are the magic [today], it’s awesome,” Fornasier said.

He said the crowd radiated so much energy when he scored his first goal, that “it was electric.”

“We love playing for them, representing Canada,” he said.

Students in the crowd had an eye-opening experience watching the game.

It has been a while for students to be able to learn about blind hockey in person as the tournament just resumed shortly from a two-year suspension due to the pandemic.

Team Canada hockey player Joe Fornasier (right) hunted down the puck from Team USA Charlie Mitchell in the 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Team Canada hockey player Joe Fornasier (right) hunted down the puck from Team USA Charlie Mitchell in the 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Mattamy Athletic Centre. Photo credit: Krystal Yeung

Fornasier said it was difficult to do blind hockey.

“Doctors told me I would never be able to play hockey, never be able to skate again,” he said. “It takes a while to get used to it.”

Fornasier said communication was the key to master blind hockey.

Players keep talking to coaches and teammates to learn where their location in both practices and games, he said.

“Once you keep doing it for a while, it becomes muscle memory,” Fornasier said.

“I know their voices so well,” he said. “If I hear someone, I know this is Mark, I know this is Kelly.”

He said the Blind Hockey Canada is his “second family”. He spends weekends on ZOOM with his teammates and have camps with them every summer.

Beauregard reinforced the importance of audio for blind hockey players.

“As your sight is very weak, you got to try to learn not to see the puck, but concentrate on hearing it,” he said. “You got to let go of trying to look for it, just trust your other senses.”

Fornasier said he wanted people to know everything is truly possible.

He said he didn’t make it to Team Canada the first time around, it took him several attempts.

Grade 3 students reached their hands to Team USA players for a handshake after the 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Grade 3 students reached their hands to Team USA players for a handshake after the 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Mattamy Athletic Centre. Photo credit: Krystal Yeung

“Use everything as motivation, use everything as fuel, just get better and better all the time,” he said. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything.”

Beauregard shared the same view and said it was important to try.

“If one never tries, one never knows whether it will be their calling,” he said.

He encouraged anyone who is visually challenged to contact Canadian Blind Hockey for tryouts.

He said the sport grew fast in North America, and this year’s tournament has expanded to six different divisions. This includes children, youth, open, low vision and development, women, and Canada versus USA.

Fornasier said he wanted to continue to play and to inspire kids who aspire to participate in the sport.

“Blind hockey is a real thing, we are athletes just like anyone else,” he said. “Everything is possible if you put your mind to it.”