Hockey Canada Announces Charlottetown as Host of 2024 Para Hockey Cup
Posted on 05/28/2024
Hockey Canada announced today that Charlottetown will host the 2024 Para Hockey Cup. Taking place from December 8-14 at the Bell Aliant Centre, this prestigious international event will see four of the world's top para hockey teams compete for gold.
Coming off the heels of Canada's recent triumph at the World Para Ice Hockey Championship in Calgary, the Para Hockey Cup will not only celebrate elite sport but also mark the 50th anniversary of ParaSport and Recreation P.E.I. The 2024 edition of the event will mark the 5th time Charlottetown has hosted the Para Hockey Cup (formerly World Sledge Hockey Challenge), reinforcing Charlottetown's highly successful sport hosting legacy, while also celebrating inclusivity, accessibility and the spirit of parasport.
Attracted by the City of Charlottetown’s sport tourism initiative SCORE, and supported by Hockey P.E.I. and ParaSport and Recreation P.E.I., the 2024 Para Hockey Cup will offer a significant boost to the local economy during the shoulder tourism season. The event will also benefit from television rights, bringing global attention to Charlottetown and enhancing the city's reputation as a hub for high-calibre sports.
Tickets for the event will go on sale at a later date, providing fans with the opportunity to witness world-class para hockey action firsthand.
Quotes:
“These tournaments are often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for participants, officials, families and fans. Charlottetown is a great hockey market and I know we are set up for success with the passionate hockey fans and volunteers.” – Dean McIntosh, Vice-President of Strategic Partnerships and Community Impact, Hockey Canada
“Hosting the 2024 Para Hockey Cup is a tremendous honour for Charlottetown. We are excited to once again welcome athletes, coaches, and fans from around the globe to our city. This event will not only highlight the thrilling, fast-paced nature of para hockey and the remarkable strength and talent of its athletes but will also showcase Charlottetown as a premier destination for international sporting events." – His Worship Mayor Philip Brown, City of Charlottetown
“Charlottetown has solidified its reputation nationally and internationally as a premium sport tourism destination. This is a testament to the organizational capacity of the City as well as community base of volunteers and fans. The 2024 Para Hockey Cup will be a great opportunity to introduce new fans to the game, create lifelong memories for players and fans, and hosting the event will have a positive impact on our communities.” – Honourable Cory Deagle, Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Province of Prince Edward Island
"We are honoured to be hosting the 2024 Para Hockey Cup in partnership with Hockey Canada and the City of Charlottetown. We are grateful to once again have the opportunity to showcase this exciting parasport right here on PEI. These talented athletes are inspiring our young, up-and-coming para-athletes to do great things.” – Craig Cameron, President, ParaSport and Recreation P.E.I.
Backgrounder:
Para hockey is the Paralympic sport version of ice hockey and, since its debut on the Paralympic program in 1994, it has become one of the biggest attractions for spectators at the Paralympic Winter Games. It is fast paced, highly physical, and played by athletes with a physical disability in the lower part of the body. Instead of skates, players use double-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass beneath. Players use two sticks, which have a spike-end for pushing and a blade-end for shooting.