Buffalo 2025: Tyler McGregor on finding the way back to the top of the mountain

Nearly one year ago, Canada stunned the United States to win the gold-medal game at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships on their home ice in Calgary — its first  world title since 2017 and first victory over the U.S. in 24 games (across World Para Ice Hockey sanctioned events and friendly games).

This month, Canada will venture south of its border to Buffalo, New York, where it will attempt to defend its title against the world’s seven other top teams.

“Sustaining success is a challenging thing to do, but we believe we have the right people, culture, and plan in place to do so,” said Canadian team captain Tyler McGregor.
 
“We can only be certain of our investment in getting better as a team and taking care of our own business, but aren’t naive to the fact that everyone else also prepares relentlessly. We’re aware that other countries have been investing heavily as well, which is truly exciting for both the present and future of our sport. Seeing the growth and evolution of the competition at such an important point of the quadrennial is something I’m really looking forward to.”

McGregor, 31 years old, added that he has two major aspirations left in his playing career — winning back-to-back World Championships and a Paralympic gold medal.

He’ll have an opportunity to achieve that first goal at the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championships A-Pool, which will take place from May 24-31 at LECOM Harborcenter. The top five finishers from the event earn qualification spots for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Top-seeded Canada will play in Group A alongside China, South Korea and Germany. 

Canada will once again be spearheaded by star forwards Liam Hickey and McGregor, who led the squad at last year’s event with 17 and 16 points, respectively. 

🇨🇦🏆🇨🇦🏆🇨🇦🏆🇨🇦🏆🇨🇦

WORLD CHAMPIONS!

CHAMPIONS DU MONDE!#Calgary2024 | #ParaIceHockey pic.twitter.com/59U3xcZ62m

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 13, 2024

McGregor, a three-time Paralympic and seven-time world medalist, was only 16 years old the last he played on the world stage in Buffalo, when it hosted the event in 2015.

“At that point, I was still trying to find my way as an athlete, and we were also going through some major changes as a team after the Sochi Paralympics, going through some growing pains,” he said. “I remember leaving Buffalo with a lot of disappointment at the result, but hopeful about our future. I also remember, being the hockey town that Buffalo is, playing in front of a passionate, energetic fan base, even if they were cheering against us.”

A decade later, and three years since settling for Paralympic silver for the second consecutive time, Canada is coming into these World Championships having experienced intentional, transformational growth the last few seasons, according to its players.

McGregor shared: “This path we’ve been on, from many difficult finishes, to finding our way back to the top of the mountain last year, has taught us an important lesson: Prepare to be able to perform at your best in the biggest moments, knowing full well in sport you aren’t guaranteed anything - regardless of how hard you work, how skilled or talented you are, or how good of a person you may be. There’s a lot more freedom and a lot less pressure when the focus becomes being the version of ourselves in the present moment.

“I think what we’re looking to replicate is that feeling of, when everything thing is on the line, we can be bonded by that confidence, trust, and belief in each other that we’re ready and willing to do whatever the situation demands of us.”

More information about Buffalo 2025 can be found here.