Deaf and Hard of Hearing players across Canada are competing, developing, and thriving at every level of the game. This page is for everyone who wants to be part of it.
Looking for information to share with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing student who loves hockey or who just needs an open door into sport.
Working with a patient and wanting to share resources about sport participation, community, and what Deaf hockey offers beyond clinical care.
Raising a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child who loves hockey, and wondering what opportunities exist and whether their child truly belongs in the sport.
Deaf or Hard of Hearing, curious about hockey, wanting to know if there's a place in this sport for you. There is and this page will show you how.
Already competing in Junior, Senior, or recreational hockey, and wondering if Team Canada Deaf Hockey is within reach. It may be closer than you think.
New to hockey or not yet on the ice at all but drawn to the sport and wanting to understand where to start and what's possible.
Whether you have a cochlear implant, wear hearing aids, or are profoundly deaf you have a place in this program. Our players represent the full spectrum of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
We have players on the national team who use cochlear implants and they are competing and thriving at the highest levels of Deaf hockey. Having an implant does not disqualify you.
Players compete without their devices during games, which is part of what makes Deaf hockey unique and why the community is so strong.
Many of our athletes wear hearing aids in daily life. The program includes players at every point on the hearing spectrum what matters is your love of hockey and your drive to compete.
Hearing aid users are eligible under ICSD guidelines. You'll find players just like you on the ice.
Some of our most accomplished athletes are profoundly deaf. This program was built by and for the Deaf community you are at home here, and you are exactly who we want on the ice.
Coaching staff and teammates use visual communication. This is an environment where Deaf culture is understood and celebrated.
To compete at the Deaflympics and World Championships, players must have a minimum hearing loss of 55 dB in the better ear (unaided). Players compete without hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other amplification devices during games.
Not sure if you qualify? Reach out to us we're happy to help you understand the eligibility criteria and next steps.
Being part of Team Canada Deaf Hockey is more than just playing it's a community, a career pathway, and a chance to represent your country on the world stage.
One of the most powerful parts of this program is the community. You'll skate alongside other Deaf and Hard of Hearing players who share your experience players who understand what it's like, and who push each other to be better. Many of our athletes say this is the first time they've played hockey where they truly belong.
Team Canada competes at the World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships and the Deaflympics the pinnacle of international Deaf sport. With 2 gold and 4 silver medals in Deaflympics history, Canada is consistently one of the top nations in the world. Our next goal: the 2027 Winter Deaflympics in Innsbruck, Austria.
Players are invited to national training camps where they work with expert coaches, push their game to the next level, and compete for roster spots on Team Canada. These camps are elite but welcoming they're designed to develop players and identify the best talent in the country.
Pulling on a jersey with the maple leaf is a moment athletes never forget. This program gives Deaf and Hard of Hearing players the opportunity to represent their country with pride something that, for many, wouldn't exist anywhere else in hockey.
Our athletes come from every corner of the hockey world — minor hockey, adult leagues, Junior, Senior, Semi-Professional, and Professional.
Players developing through minor hockey systems across Canada
Recreational and competitive adult league players of all skill levels
Many players compete in Junior A, B, and C leagues across Canada
Competitive Senior leagues from local to national level
Athletes competing in semi-pro leagues in Canada and abroad
Program alumni have reached professional leagues
Team Canada Deaf Hockey is not separate from the hockey world it's part of it. Our athletes are the same players you see in Junior leagues on weekends, grinding through Senior seasons, and competing at professional levels. Deaf hockey is a pathway that runs alongside the mainstream game, not instead of it.
Players have used Team Canada tryouts and national training camps to sharpen their game, connect with coaches and scouts, and elevate their performance in their home leagues. The experience of competing internationally facing elite players from the USA, Finland, Sweden, Russia, and more makes them better hockey players at every level.
Meet Our AthletesWe're committed to supporting players at every stage whether you're just learning to skate or looking to sharpen your game for the national stage.
If a student is Deaf or Hard of Hearing and curious about hockey even with no experience this program is a welcoming place to start. The Deaf hockey community is supportive, and players who start as beginners can develop into national team competitors.
We're here to help connect aspiring players with resources, local leagues, and mentors who understand their journey.
We are actively working to develop skills camps specifically designed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing players who are earlier in their hockey journey. These will provide structured, accessible on-ice development in an environment where communication and coaching are fully tailored to the community.
Stay connected reach out to us if you'd like to be notified when development camps are announced.
Learn to skate, local minor hockey, connect with the community
Junior leagues, skills camps, Deaf hockey tryouts and events
National training camps, World Championships, Deaflympics
Answers to the questions teachers, parents, and players ask most often.
Yes. We have players on the national program who use cochlear implants in their daily lives. To compete officially under ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) rules, players must have a minimum hearing loss of 55 dB in the better ear without amplification. During competition, devices are removed but many cochlear implant users meet eligibility criteria. Contact us to discuss a specific situation.
Absolutely. Many of our athletes wear hearing aids, and hearing aid users are welcome and eligible. The eligibility standard is based on unaided hearing loss, not whether someone uses hearing aids day-to-day. If you're not sure whether a student qualifies, reach out and we'll help you figure it out.
We want to hear from them. The road to Team Canada starts in local minor hockey and recreational leagues. We can help connect beginners with resources, Deaf hockey communities, and pathways into the game. It's never too early or too late to start.
No. The national team is elite, but the broader program tryouts, development events, skills camps, and the Deaf hockey community is open to players at many levels. Players who come in as developing athletes often grow into national team competitors over time.
Team Canada competes at the World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships and the Winter Deaflympics every four years. Canada has won 2 gold and 4 silver medals at the Deaflympics since 1995. Our players travel internationally, represent Canada against nations like the USA, Finland, Sweden, and Russia, and experience hockey at the highest level of Deaf sport. The 2027 Deaflympics will be held in Innsbruck, Austria.
Yes and that's the norm. Our athletes play Junior, Senior, Semi-Pro, and Pro hockey in their home leagues while also representing Canada. Deaf hockey runs alongside mainstream hockey, not instead of it. Being part of Team Canada can make a player better in every environment they compete in.
Coaches and players rely on visual communication hand signals, eye contact, visual cues which many Deaf players already use naturally. Competing alongside teammates who share this experience is one of the most unique and powerful parts of Deaf hockey. It's hockey built around how our players communicate, not adapted for it.
We welcome outreach from teachers, parents, counselors, and community workers. Contact us directly and we'll provide information tailored to the student's situation where they are in Canada, their hockey background, and their hearing profile. We're happy to connect.
Whether you're a teacher, parent, or a player yourself we'd love to hear from you. Every great hockey story starts somewhere.