The Canadian Blind Hockey team has just one player from northern Ontario on it, and that athlete also happens to be the only female on the team. Amanda Provan, 29, and the rest of Team Canada will head across the border later this week for the National Blind Hockey series with Team USA. It will be Provan’s second time at the matchup. Since taking up Blind Hockey five years ago, she has been blazing her own trail. “I’m just trying to be a good role model for the younger girls,” she said. “I just want to set a good example and show them that they’re capable of playing at this level as well if they set their mind to it and work hard.” All players in Blind Hockey are legally blind, which means they have ten per cent vision or less. Provan has three per cent remaining due to a disorder called foveal hypoplasia. She gets around with the help of her guide dog, Ivan. Blind Hockey is played using an adapted puck. It’s larger, built out of thin steel and contains ball bearings which rattle, making the puck audible to the players. According to Canadian Blind Hockey, the best of the best are chosen for the national team. “We’ve found a lot of new players over the last few years that are younger and have previously played at higher levels, or some of our younger athletes have become really motivated and they’ve put in a lot of training,” said Matt Morrow, executive director. “I think this is going to be the fastest and best version of Team Canada we’ve ever seen.” Along with blind hockey, Provan is dabbling in a few other athletic endeavours. “Finding Blind Hockey actually introduced me to an entire world of para-sports,” she said. “I’ve done some rowing, I’ve played some goalball, some BEEP baseball and currently I’m training to be a tandem cyclist.” Despite these other sports, Provan said her passion is hockey. “Blind Hockey is incredible -- it changes lives and the community is fantastic, as well,” she said. Canada and the U.S. will play three matchups this weekend, with all games to be broadcast live on the Canadian Blind Hockey website.
