Just two years after competing for Canada in the Rio Paralympic Games, Sunrise Ambassador Liam Hickey of St. John's captures silver in the Paralympic Games, but this time he did it on the ice. The 19 year-old dual-sport athlete has changed his focus from wheelchair basketball to sledge hockey at the Paralympics in Pyeongchang.
"We're going to the Paralympics, and it's obviously a tremendous honour to wear the Canadian jersey any time you can. It's a huge opportunity and we're all looking forward to it."
Hickey has been a part of the sledge hockey team for the past two years, and through his hard work he was selected to be part of the Paralympic team. He's the rare dual-sport Paralympic athlete, having played on Canada's wheelchair basketball team at the Games two years ago in Rio.
"To do it in two separate sports is a pretty amazing opportunity for myself, and I take it as a huge honour," said Hickey.
The team was selected after a training camp in February in southern Ontario, where they also split a pair of exhibition games against the United States, the defending Paralympic champion and Canada's rival. The Canadian sledge hockey team was favored upon entering the Games, having previously won the 2017 World Championships.
Canada dominated its opponents through the preliminary round and semifinal play where they outscored Sweden, Italy, and Korea 42-0 while allowing only 13 shots on goal. Canada's Para Hockey Team skated to a silver medal following a 2-1 overtime loss to the United States on Sunday afternoon in Gangneung, South Korea. The Canadian sled hockey team ends the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games with a record of 4-1.
"Our guys were tremendous. They battled hard. They took Canada's para hockey program to a silver medal. I'm very proud of our team, and I'm very lucky to be part of such a great group of young men and such a great organization [as Hockey Canada]," said head coach Ken Babey.
While this was Hickey's first appearance in the Winter Paralympic Games, he and his team has led Canada to its second Paralympic Games silver in 20 years. The addition of Canada's silver medal adds to the record medal haul for the Canadian contingent at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, surpassing the 2010 record of 19 medals in Vancouver.
Most of the stories here on Live Quickie were submitted by readers. Do you have a story to tell? We'd love to hear it. Submit your story here.