Milano Cortina 2026: Ones to watch in Para ice hockey

Para ice hockey is a fast, physical and action-packed team sport. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, eight teams will compete for glory at the newly built Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. 

Here are 10 Para ice hockey players to watch when the Games open on 6 March.
 

Jack Wallace (USA)

Jack Wallace heads to his third Paralympic Winter Games seeking his third gold medal. He was named Best Defender at Beijing 2022, helping Team USA win their fifth Para ice hockey gold. He is also a summer–winter dual athlete, competing in Para canoe during the summer season.

Jen Lee (USA)

Milano Cortina 2026 will be Jen Lee’s fourth Games. At Beijing 2022, the goaltender did not allow a single goal in the four games he played, helping the USA win an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal.

Greg Westlake (Canada)

Greg Westlake is rejoining his teammates on the ice at Milano Cortina 2026, returning from retirement after moving into a coaching role following Beijing 2022. A five-time Paralympian, he led Canada to gold at Torino 2006, silver at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, and bronze at Sochi 2014.

Tyler McGregor (Canada)

A key member of the Canadian team since 2012, Tyler McGregor will head to his fourth Paralympics. In 2024, the star forward led Canada to its first World Para Ice Hockey Championships title in seven years on home soil in Calgary.

Gianluigi Rosa (Italy)

Gianluigi Rosa will compete in his fifth Paralympic Winter Games, 16 years after making his debut at Vancouver 2010. At Beijing 2022, Rosa led the team to a fifth-place finish—the best result for a European team in the Chinese capital—and now looks to ride the energy of the home crowd at Milano Cortina 2026.

Radek Zelinka (Czechia)

Radek Zelinka scored the winning goal in Czechia’s 2-1 victory over China in the bronze medal match at the Buffalo 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, securing the team’s third consecutive podium finish. He is seeking his first Paralympic medal after placing sixth on his debut at Beijing 2022.

Yifeng Shen (China)

Yifeng Shen was part of China’s history-making team at Beijing 2022, winning bronze just five years after the country launched its Para ice hockey programme. He was named Best Forward of the tournament and finished second on the goal-scoring leaders list.

Jan Malte Brelage (Germany)

Jan Malte Brelage is aiming to help Germany shine in its first Paralympic appearance since Torino 2006. Last year, the star defense player led Germany to a fifth-place finish at Buffalo 2025, equalling the nation’s best-ever result at the World Championships.

Itsuki Ito (Japan)

One of the sport’s rising stars, Itsuki Ito is set to make his Paralympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. The 21-year-old player was named Best Forward at the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Paralympic Winter Games Qualification Tournament, where Japan secured a spot for the Games after missing out at Beijing 2022.

Martin Joppa (Slovakia)

Milano Cortina 2026 will mark Martin Joppa’s second Paralympic appearance. Formerly an ice hockey goaltender before a car accident in 2005 changed the course of his life, he has been Slovakia’s standout forward throughout the team’s rapid rise, leading them to qualify for their second consecutive Paralympic Winter Games.

Discover more about Para ice hockey and other sports on the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic programme

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org