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TheStar.com - Sports - Deaf hockey's `top dog'
Canadians prepare to defend gold at the Deaflympics next month in Salt Lake City
Everyone knows about the dominance of Canada's men's and women's Olympic hockey teams. But Canada's deaf ice hockey team has also been setting the gold standard on the international stage.
The team will be trying for its third straight gold medal at next month's Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. They're the favourites, naturally.
"The international teams ... they see Canada as a hockey country, so we want to defend our reputation," said team GM Roy Hysen, through an interpreter yesterday.
"But they would love to beat Canada. It's an added pressure, being top dog."
Canadian players and Walter Gretzky, the team's unofficial ambassador, were introduced at a press conference at the Deaf Culture Centre in Toronto's distillery district yesterday.
Canada has won medals in eight of the nine international tournaments they've entered.
Hysen founded the non-profit federation in 1983 to operate a national team composed of players who are deaf or hard of hearing (defined by a loss of hearing of at least 55 decibels).
The team had a large impact on the life of defenceman Mark Couture, 37.
He was a teen playing Junior B hockey in Milton when a high school teacher told him about the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation.
"Since I joined the deaf team (in 1989) I've gained a sense of identity," Couture said through an interpreter. "Being with hearing players, even though they were skilled, there was that lack of communication."
The 23-man roster spans in age, from 16 to 37. They play hockey in university, junior leagues or in recreational leagues. Two members are professional players in Europe.
Couture said he believes there are deaf or hard of hearing skaters falling through the cracks.
"Perhaps they are lost in the mainstream and don't even know that we exist," he said.
Steve Devine was an example of that. The 25-year-old former captain of the University of Toronto Blues only heard through word of mouth about the team.
Devine, who has 60 per cent hearing loss, uses a hearing aid, but under international rules the devices won't be allowed on the ice Feb. 2, when Canada opens its title defence against Germany. The arena will be equipped with strobe lights to signal stoppages in play.
Gretzky, who is completely deaf in his right ear, said it was touching for him to be able to support the team.
"To be part of a Canadian contingent, whether it be people who hear or people who are deaf, it is such a privilege and an honour," he said. "I think about it, (but ) I can't think too much because it brings tears to my eyes."
Canadians prepare to defend gold at the Deaflympics next month in Salt Lake City
Everyone knows about the dominance of Canada's men's and women's Olympic hockey teams. But Canada's deaf ice hockey team has also been setting the gold standard on the international stage.
The team will be trying for its third straight gold medal at next month's Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. They're the favourites, naturally.
"The international teams ... they see Canada as a hockey country, so we want to defend our reputation," said team GM Roy Hysen, through an interpreter yesterday.
"But they would love to beat Canada. It's an added pressure, being top dog."
Canadian players and Walter Gretzky, the team's unofficial ambassador, were introduced at a press conference at the Deaf Culture Centre in Toronto's distillery district yesterday.
Canada has won medals in eight of the nine international tournaments they've entered.
Hysen founded the non-profit federation in 1983 to operate a national team composed of players who are deaf or hard of hearing (defined by a loss of hearing of at least 55 decibels).
The team had a large impact on the life of defenceman Mark Couture, 37.
He was a teen playing Junior B hockey in Milton when a high school teacher told him about the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation.
"Since I joined the deaf team (in 1989) I've gained a sense of identity," Couture said through an interpreter. "Being with hearing players, even though they were skilled, there was that lack of communication."
The 23-man roster spans in age, from 16 to 37. They play hockey in university, junior leagues or in recreational leagues. Two members are professional players in Europe.
Couture said he believes there are deaf or hard of hearing skaters falling through the cracks.
"Perhaps they are lost in the mainstream and don't even know that we exist," he said.
Steve Devine was an example of that. The 25-year-old former captain of the University of Toronto Blues only heard through word of mouth about the team.
Devine, who has 60 per cent hearing loss, uses a hearing aid, but under international rules the devices won't be allowed on the ice Feb. 2, when Canada opens its title defence against Germany. The arena will be equipped with strobe lights to signal stoppages in play.
Gretzky, who is completely deaf in his right ear, said it was touching for him to be able to support the team.
"To be part of a Canadian contingent, whether it be people who hear or people who are deaf, it is such a privilege and an honour," he said. "I think about it, (but ) I can't think too much because it brings tears to my eyes."