“Even when you’re wounded, life doesn’t stop there,” affirmed Captain Blaise Lapointe, who lost a leg in Afghanistan in 2009. “With a little perseverance and help, which we have available, we can still take part in the same activities as before.”
A face-off takes place in the Canadian Amputee Hockey Committee zone.
“Amputee hockey is an internationally practiced sport that gives amputees the chance to compete against opponents with similar injuries,” explained Capt Elizabeth Tremblay-Lewicki, Public Affairs Officer.
“These are amputees who play hockey standing up, using their prosthesis.”
On 21 January, 25 players from the Canadian Amputee Hockey Committee team took part in a friendly and very close game against the Vieux Lions of Valcartier at the Clément-Boulanger Arena. This internationally competitive team has never suffered a defeat at the hands of another team in the same category over its five years of competition.
Captain Blaise Lapointe of the Canadian Amputee Hockey Committee warms up before the game between his team and the Vieux Lions from Valcartier at the Clément-Boulanger Arena.
For the benefit of injured CF members, the Committee gave a speech in the Officers’ Mess on amputee hockey and the adaptation of prostheses.
“They are very open, approachable and generous with their time and their effort,” said Capt Lapointe about the Canadian Amputee Hockey Committee, which, in his opinion, offers valuable guidance to injured Canadian soldiers.
To learn more about the Canadian Amputee Hockey Committee, visit www.canadianamputeehockey.ca.
Article by Sgt Elias El-Kesserwani
Photos by Cpl Kate Duggan
