Steve Arsenault visited Red Deer just weeks after winning a silver medal in sledge hockey at the Paralympic Games.
Arsenault met with fans and sledge hockey players at the Kinsmen Community Arenas Saturday during the 15th annual Western Canada Sledge Hockey Tournament, also known as the Matt Cook Memorial Cup.
READ MORE: Sledge hockey tournament begins in Red Deer
The 29-year-old defenceman from Stony Plain, Alta. said Team Canada’s overtime loss to the United States in the gold medal game in Pyeongchang, South Korea still stings.
“It’s taking a bit to sink in, but in the long run winning silver is huge for my career and for para ice hockey in the country,” Arsenault said.
“It’s the best we’ve ever done as a country, which is important because it’s good for the growth of the Paralympic Games.”
Arsenault said he hopes sledge hockey continues to grow in Canada.
“Since I started in 2005, we’ve come a long way. People didn’t even know what para ice hockey or sledge hockey was back then and now it’s close to being a household sport,” he said.
Arsenault also won a bronze medal at the 2014 Paralympics and gold medals at the International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships in 2013 and 2017.
Before playing on Team Canada, Arsenault used to play in the Western Canada Sledge Hockey Tournament.
“It’s kind of like a stroll through memory lane,” Arsenault said. “It’s fun to give back to the community and it’s such an honour to represent the country.”
Arsenault said he can’t help but smile knowing he can inspire young sledge hockey players.
“I almost enjoy this as much as I enjoy playing the game,” he said. “If I have any influence in them to push for their dreams, that’s a complete honour.”
When Arsenault was 13, he broke his hip running down the stairs. Shortly after he was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, which is the death of bone tissue due to interruption of the blood supply.
Before being injured he played standup hockey.
“After a while my mom found sledge hockey online … and I tried it and have been playing since,” he said.
Arsenault said he’s still hungry to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games.
“I didn’t think I’d be where I am today when I first played. It’s been a long road, but I’m still young. I have a lot of hockey left in me,” he said.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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