The Ontario Sledge Hockey Association (OSHA) has awarded the 2019 Canadian Sledge Hockey Championships to the Township of Woolwich, home of the Woolwich Thrashers Sledge Hockey Club.
Two Mapleton residents are currently members of the Thrashers Junior team.
The successful bid was submitted by Woolwich Sledge Hockey and was formally announced on Feb. 21 by the OSHA executive.
The 2019 Canadian Sledge Hockey Championships will welcome provincial teams from across Canada to the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira, on May 10 to 12, 2019 and will be an exciting opportunity to watch some of the very best sledge hockey players in the country.
“The success of our bid is a milestone for Woolwich Sledge Hockey and comes with significant support from our community partners and the Ontario Sledge Hockey Association,” said Keith Metzger, director of hockey operations for Woolwich Sledge Hockey.
“We are excited that these championships will bring the country’s most elite sledge hockey competition to the town of Elmira, Ontario.”
Also, 2019 will mark Woolwich Sledge Hockey’s 10th year supporting and promoting sledge hockey throughout the region, making for an extra special celebration, officials say.
“OSHA is very excited to have Woolwich Township host the 2019 Canadian Sledge Hockey Championships,” said James Titmarsh, vice president of OSHA and the selection committee chair.
“We believe past experiences of hosting our Team Ontario program for tryouts along with the dedication towards the Woolwich Thrashers Sledge Hockey program makes them the best host city. OSHA is very excited to take the next year planning with the community of Woolwich ahead of this event.”
Previous hosts of the Canadian Sledge Hockey Championships have included Leduc, Alberta (2016), Boucherville, Quebec (2017) and Richmond, British Columbia (2018).
