North American rivalry to set Beijing 2022 alight

Para Ice Hockey at Beijing 2022 will feature all-time rivals the USA and Canada PyeongChang 2018 bronze medallists South Korea aim to prove themselves once again Italy hope to level-up following their best ever finish from four years ago 05 Mar 2022

Two Para ice hockey players celebrating with a fist bump on their sledges.

The USA are going for their fifth Paralympic title at Beijing 2022.

ⒸCzech Para Ice Hockey

By Lucy Dominy I For The IPC

Much like Olympic ice hockey, the rivalry between the USA and Canada in Para Ice Hockey is as old as time.

Surprisingly though, despite playing against each other for gold at the last five World Championships, the two sides have only ever faced each other in one Paralympic final.

Four years ago at PyeongChang 2018, the gold was Canada’s to lose.

Declan Farmer equalised with 37 seconds left on the clock and then scored the overtime goal to clinch the Paralympic title for the USA.

The USA are four-time Paralympic champions and have won gold at every edition since 2010.

Declan Farmer (left) will compete at his fourth Paralympics at Beijing 2022. Ⓒ Matthew Murnaghan/Hockey Canada Images

Meanwhile Canada are hoping for a return to Torino 2006 for a shot on their second title, and sixth medal overall. Tyler McGregor has been part of five World Championships and two Paralympic medal-winning campaigns for Canada since 2012.

Fans will get an early look at who could be the in-form side on the opening day of competition at the National Indoor Stadium. The USA and Canada will face-off in their first group A tie.

PyeongChang 2018 bronze medallists South Korea aim to show that their first Paralympic podium was no fluke with the help of Seung-Hwan Jung. Nicknamed the ‘Rocket Man’ by some and even ‘Messi on Ice’ by others, Jung is widely considered to be the fastest man on a sledge.

male Para ice hockey player Seung-Hwan Jung waves his stick in celebration on the ice

South Korea's Seung-Hwan Jung is known for his incredible speed. Ⓒ Getty Images

Group B will feature Czech Republic, Italy, Slovakia and hosts China.

Triple Paralympian Michael Geier has been at the heart of the Czech Republic’s attack for more than a decade. The side just missed out on a shot at the medals in 2010 and 2014 and finished sixth in 2018.

China have enjoyed a whirlwind few seasons in the lead-up to Beijing 2022. Promoted from the C-Pool in 2018 and the B-Pool to the top flight just last year, Yi Feng Shen was named Best Forward on both occasions.

Italy will be hoping to improve on their best ever finish of fourth from four years ago when they lost out to South Korea with an agonising 1-0 loss.

Slovakia round off the teams for Beijing 2022, and will make their Paralympic debut. Martin Joppa was key to their qualification and was the team’s top scorer at the 2021 World Championships with three goals and one assist.