Veteran forward Greg Westlake is set to participate in his sixth Winter Paralympic Games as Canada’s Para hockey team pursues its first Olympic gold medal in two decades at the upcoming Milan-Cortina event. Westlake, who recently returned from retirement, is one of the experienced Paralympic athletes named in the 17-player roster unveiled by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The Winter Paralympic Games, scheduled to commence on March 6 and conclude on March 15, will succeed the Olympic Games in Italy.
At 39 years old, Westlake stands out as the sole player on the roster who was part of the Canadian squad that clinched gold at the 2006 Turin Paralympics. After serving as an assistant coach for two seasons, Westlake made the decision last year to make the 2026 Games his final Olympic appearance. Expressing his sentiments at Hockey Canada’s headquarters in Calgary, Westlake emphasized the significance of the moment for both himself and his teammates.
The Canadian team features several seasoned players, with forward Adam Dixon entering his fifth Paralympics, captain Tyler McGregor participating in his fourth, and defencemen Rob Armstrong and Tyrone Henry, alongside goalie Corbin Watson, heading to their third Paralympic Games.
Forward Liam Hickey, also gearing up for his fourth Paralympics, will be playing in his third Winter Paralympics as a Para hockey athlete after competing in wheelchair basketball at the 2016 Rio Games. Additionally, several debutants including forwards Vincent Boily and Micah Kovacevich, and defencemen Shawn Burnett, Auren Halbert, and Mathieu Lelièvre will be making their first appearance at the Paralympics.
The United States has been dominating the Para ice hockey scene with four consecutive gold medals since Turin, while Canada secured silver in 2022 and 2018, and bronze in 2014. Despite the U.S.’s recent success, Canada managed to defeat their rivals in the 2024 world championship finals in Calgary.
The upcoming Paralympic tournament will see Canada facing Slovakia, Japan, and Czechia in their initial matches. The competition comprises eight countries divided into two pools, with the defending champions, the U.S., China, Germany, and host Italy, forming another group. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals, with the medal matches scheduled for March 15.
McGregor highlighted the team’s preparedness for the challenges ahead, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the Paralympic Games and emphasizing the importance of resilience and unity in pursuit of the gold medal. The integration of the Para hockey team with NHL players and top female athletes during a Hockey Canada Olympic orientation camp left a lasting impact on the Para players, fostering a sense of recognition and confidence among the team members.
With the goal of achieving triple gold in men’s, women’s, and Para hockey events, Hockey Canada aspires for a collective triumph at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. McGregor underscored the significance of mutual support and camaraderie within the teams, reflecting on the positive influence of the orientation camp on the Para hockey squad.
The Canadian roster for the upcoming Paralympics includes goaltenders Adam Kingsmill and Corbin Watson, defencemen Rob Armstrong, Shawn Burnett, Auren Halbert, Tyrone Henry, and Mathieu Lelièvre, as well as forwards Vincent Boily, Dominic Cozzolino, Adam Dixon, James Dunn, Liam Hickey, Anton Jacobs-Webb, Micah Kovacevich, Zach Lavin, Tyler McGregor, and Greg Westlake.