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By LINDSAY TARRINGTON
Special to the News

Canada’s National Sledge Hockey team has chosen Port Colborne as the home of their pre-Paralympic Games training camp this winter.

Marshall Starkman, manager of sledge hockey with Hockey Canada, says the team was looking for a location where they could have a home and home series with Team USA.

“The geographic fit was great,” says Starkman. “Then you’ve got this great new facility that’s sledge accessible, that’s excited to have us here and it gives us a chance to introduce a new community to the sport.”

Team Canada’s practices have been taking place at the Vale Health and Wellness Centre.

Bryan Theal, events and sports co-ordinator at the centre, says some of the dressing rooms have accommodations with wider showers and stalls for wheelchairs, clear panels that go along the boards so the players can still see the game while on the bench, benches are removable and artificial ice can be put down in the bench area.

“We’ve been thrilled to host Team Canada for this training camp,” says Theal. “It’s been amazing, so we’re certainly proud to have them here.”

Port Colborne residents are also thrilled to be part of this experience. Local resident Linda Haakman has been to two of the team’s practices.

Haakman recalls thinking sledge hockey was “really impressive” when she came across it on television, and saying, “Oh my god, we have to go there!” when she saw it in the paper on Tuesday.

Team Canada finished training camp in Port Colborne with a game against Team USA on Feb. 10.

Mayor John Maloney said having the team in Port Colborne is a plus for the city and its residents.

“It’s exciting and fun, and it will now receive world exposure with the Paralympic teams,” says Maloney. “And we will have been right in the middle of it as we proceed into these games in Pyeongchang.”

Defenceman Tyler McGregor, left, and team captain Greg Westlake take a break on the bench during the Team Canada Sledge Hockey practice in Port Colborne on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. PHOTO BY LINDSAY TARRINGTON