‘Hockey truly is for everybody’: Canucks make history supporting Blind Hockey

The Vancouver Canucks are making history with a partnership with Canadian Blind Hockey.

The Vancouver Canucks and Canadian Blind Hockey are making history by coming together to support blind athletes.

On Friday morning, former Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean made the ceremonial puck drop before game one of the Western Regional Blind Hockey Tournament in Richmond.

During the ceremony, the new Canucks Blind Hockey logo was unveiled. The design is inspired by the former primary Canucks black, red and yellow skate.

As part of the partnership, the Lower Mainland youth program has been re-branded the Vancouver Jr. Canucks Blind Hockey Team. Canadian Blind Hockey says the new all-ages program in the capital of B.C. will be named the Victoria Canucks Blind Hockey Team.

According to the organization, this is the first NHL team toofficially support their programs as the premier partner for the province of B.C., with the intention to inspire more children with visual impairments to lace up the skates and hit the ice.

“The goal is really to showcase the sport in new communities where players have the opportunity to play at home, but also try to find new fans for the local programs,” said Matt Morrow, the executive director for Canadian Blind Hockey.

Morrow went on to say that in 2014, there were only four teams in Canada and now that number has grown to more than 20. He says this weekend is the first time they’ve had all four western Canadian provinces represented.

With the momentum growing for the sport, the group welcomed young children with visual impairments to hit the ice with former Canucks players, such as Corey Hirsch.

“Hockey truly is for everybody. It’s such a great sport,” said Hirsch.

“It’s a really, really heartwarming, cool event to have and to be able to get these kids and people out here is very special.”

The tournament is taking place at Minoru Arena in Richmond from Oct. 17-19.