‘Something you truly need to see’: Dawson Creek declares Para Cup Week as city prepares to host elite event

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The countdown is just a few days away from Dawson Creek hosting some of the best para ice hockey players from around the globe.

The 2025 Para Hockey Cup will take place starting this weekend at Dawson Creek’s Ovintiv Events Centre. 

A variation of ice hockey, players in the game are strapped to mobility sleds and have two sticks to handle the puck, while maintaining balance and flow of the game on the ice.

Featuring teams from Canada, China, Czechia and the United States, the competition will be the final showcase before next March’s Winter Paralympics in Italy.

The city has declared November 30th to December 6th Para Cup Week, with Dawson Creek mayor Darcy Dober saying the competition “represents more than sport.”

“It represents community, unity and the shared belief that everyone should have the opportunity to participate fully in recreation,”  said Dober in a press release.

Several food-drive related initiatives for food banks will also take place during the tournament: for instance, Ovintiv will donate $100 and the Dawson Creek Co-Op will donate two food bags for every goal scored.

Additionally, 4,300 School District 59 and 60 students will be able to attend morning games during the tournament with a lunch provided, and all attendees can receive a $5 discount to Friday’s semi-final games by donating a non-perishable food item at the box offices until 7 p.m.

Ryan MacIvor, Dawson Creek’s general manager of community services, had a chat with Moose FM’s Chris Walker on November 25th about the city hosting the Para Hockey Cup.

“Dawson Creek is fortunate to be able to host this, but it is truly a regional event,” said MacIvor. “We look to our partners across the region to make this event successful, whether it’s the [Peace River] Regional District or the City of Fort St. John.

“Para hockey is not a new sport by any sense of the word, but it’s new to the Peace region. There might be some sort of aspect or disability that really is impeding [skating], but you’re talking about extreme high-level competition. The determination for these athletes is something truly that you need to see.”

The 2025 Para Hockey Cup is sanctioned by the country’s governing body, Hockey Canada and will take place at the Ovintiv Events Centre from Sunday, November 30th to Saturday, December 6th.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the Ovintiv Events Centre box office. Preliminary games cost $15, with the semi-final games priced at $20 and the gold medal match at $25.

More details are at the Ovintiv Events Centre’s webpage or Hockey Canada’s website.