Canada’s para hockey team achieved a historic milestone, clinching gold for the first time since 2017 and marking their inaugural gold medal win on Canadian soil at the World Para Hockey Championship in Calgary this past weekend.
Tyler McGregor, the Forest Ontario native, played a pivotal role in the win, assisting on the game-winning goal as Canada defeated the three-time defending gold medalists, Team USA, with a final score of 2-1.
McGregor emerged as the top scorer, netting nine goals and amassing 17 points, guiding Canada to their first gold medal since the 2017 International Para Hockey Tournament in Turin, Italy. McGregor's tenure as captain since 2019 has been marked by consistent excellence, leading the team in scoring for three consecutive World Championship tournaments, including this year's victory.
Canada's dominance was evident in the round-robin phase, opening with back-to-back shutout victories.
The campaign kicked off with a convincing 19-0 win against Japan, during which McGregor racked up three goals and four assists.
He continued with four goals and an assist in a 10-0 win over Italy, followed by two more goals in a 5-1 victory against Czechia.
In the semifinals, Canada faced China in a much tighter game. After trailing 1-0 in the first period, Canada staged a comeback, scoring two quick goals early in the third period to secure a spot in the finals with a 2-1 win.
McGregor contributed assists on both goals.
The final showdown against reigning world champions, Team USA, unfolded with Canada taking control early, scoring once in the first period and again in the second, with McGregor adding an assist on the latter goal, propelling Canada to a 2-0 lead heading into the final frame.
Team USA would cut the lead in half, midway through the third period, but that would be as close as they would get. Goaltender Adam Kingsmill would shut the door the rest of the way clinching Canada's first gold medal win on home soil since 2017.
McGregor's journey in para hockey began after a broken leg at the age of 15, putting an end to the dream of playing in the OHL. Since that moment, McGregor was determined to get back to playing hockey, and has since left his mark on the national sledge hockey team.
Making his national team debut at age 18 in the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Calgary, McGregor immediately made an impact, contributing a goal and two assists as Canada secured the silver medal.
Less than a year later, he played an instrumental role in Canada's gold medal triumph at the world championships, setting the stage for his continued excellence in the sport.
With this latest gold medal, McGregor adds to his impressive collection, which includes four silver medals and a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.