Veteran forward Greg Westlake is set to participate in his sixth Winter Paralympic Games as part of Canada’s Para hockey team, aiming to secure their first Olympic gold in two decades in Milan-Cortina. 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, running from March 6 to March 15, will immediately follow the Olympic Games in Italy. Among the players, 39-year-old Westlake is the sole member who was part of the Canadian squad that clinched gold at the 2006 Turin Paralympics.
Having spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Canada, Westlake made the decision last year to make the 2026 Games his final Olympic appearance. He expressed his sentiments in Calgary, emphasizing the significance of the event for both seasoned and debutant team members.
Forward Adam Dixon will be competing in his fifth Paralympics, while captain Tyler McGregor is gearing up for his fourth participation. Defenders Rob Armstrong and Tyrone Henry, along with goaltender Corbin Watson, are embarking on their third Paralympic journey.
Forward Liam Hickey, in his fourth Games and third as a Para hockey player, transitions from the 2016 Rio Games in wheelchair basketball. The upcoming Paralympics will also mark the debut of forwards Vincent Boily and Micah Kovacevich, as well as defenders Shawn Burnett, Auren Halbert, and Mathieu Lelièvre.
Since the Turin Games, the United States has secured four consecutive gold medals, with Canada earning silver in 2022 and 2018 and bronze in 2014. The U.S. has emerged victorious in four out of the last five world championship finals against Canada.
The Canadian team will kick off their Paralympic campaign on March 7 against Slovakia, followed by matches against Japan on March 9 and Czechia on March 10. The teams are divided into two pools, with the U.S., China, Germany, and host Italy in the other pool. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals, with the medal matches scheduled for March 15.
Captain McGregor emphasized the importance of readiness and resilience in the high-stakes tournament, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the Paralympic Games environment. The Para team’s participation in an Olympic orientation camp alongside NHL players and top women athletes significantly impacted their preparation and mindset for the upcoming competition.
Hockey Canada’s primary objective at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games is to secure gold in all three categories — men’s, women’s, and Para hockey. McGregor highlighted the unity and support within the team as key components for achieving success in the tournament.
The official Canada roster comprises goaltenders Adam Kingsmill and Corbin Watson, defensemen Rob Armstrong, Shawn Burnett, Auren Halbert, Tyrone Henry, and Mathieu Lelièvre, along with forwards Vincent Boily, Dominic Cozzolino, Adam Dixon, James Dunn, Liam Hickey, Anton Jacobs-Webb, Micah Kovacevich, Zach Lavin, Tyler McGregor, and Greg Westlake.