The Honourable Paul Dinn, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, on behalf of the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, today participated in a Hockey Canada announcement for the 2026 Para Cup which will be hosted next fall in Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Our government, through Celebrate NL, is pleased to support the Town of Paradise with $30,000 for this Hockey Canada international event. Celebrate NL’s mandate is to attract events to our communities that have strong social, cultural and economic impacts.
Sport strengthens our physical and mental well‑being and helps build stronger communities. With hockey deeply rooted in our province, hosting the Para Cup allows us to celebrate the skill, dedication, and resilience of these remarkable athletes.
We are especially proud of local talent, including St. John’s native Liam Hickey, who continues to excel on the national and international stage. He was just named to Team Canada’s paralympic ice hockey team and will compete at the Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, in March.
Atlantic Canada has a proud history of welcoming international para hockey competition, and Newfoundland and Labrador is honoured to continue that legacy. The 2026 tournament marks the first time since 2019 that the Para Cup will return to the province, giving local fans the chance to see some of the world’s best para hockey athletes compete on home ice.
Organized by Hockey Canada, the tournament is a premier international sledge hockey event featuring elite para-athletes, bringing together four top teams to compete on the world stage.
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“The Para Cup’s return to Newfoundland and Labrador is an exciting moment for our province and a proud day for para sport. We look forward to welcoming the world’s best para hockey athletes to Paradise in 2026 and showcasing the passion, talent, and spirit that define our communities.”
Honourable Andrea Barbour
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
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