Ice Owls blind hockey comes to Collingwood

The Toronto Ice Owls Blind Hockey Team is coming to Collingwood on Saturday April 23 to the Eddie Bush Arena to play a charity hockey game from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This event is a showcase to check out how visually impaired and blind people play hockey and a fundraiser in support of Hospice Georgian Triangle/ Campbell House. Admission to the game is a donation to the cause.

The Toronto Ice Owls is the only blind ice hockey team in Ontario. Members of the team are men and women who are visually impaired or blind. They travel to Toronto, every Sunday all winter long to play hockey. The players travel from Sudbury, Burlington, Woodstock, Collingwood, Stayner, Elmvale and the GTA. This year marks the 50th Anniversary for the Toronto Ice Owls which was started in 1972.

There will be over 20 players travelling to Collingwood by bus from the GTA while other players will be driven to compete in this game. There are three local players; Randy Banks, of Collingwood, Bob Lowe, of Stayner, and Emily McLean, of Elmvale, who will be playing and have volunteered to organize this event, along with many other volunteers.

This event took place three years ago, however due to Covid, the annual event was cancelled.

The organizers are excited by the support of local businesses who have donated over 50 items for a silent auction, along with a signed Morgan Rielly Maple Leaf Jersey.

Prior to the game, there will be an opportunity to get out on the ice to shoot the adapted puck which is four times the size of a regular puck, metal and contains eight ball bearings. This allows players to hear and find the puck when it is moving.

Bring your skates, helmet and stick to meet some of the most amazing athletes and to take shots on a goalie who is totally blind. You will be surprised how fast the game is and be amazed how these players play the game loved by so many Canadians.