Tyler McGregor chasing first gold, leading with compassion

Canadian Para ice hockey captain Tyler McGregor still remembers the electricity of his first Opening Ceremony at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.

“Walking into my first Opening Ceremony and spotting my family in the crowd was phenomenal,” said McGregor. “That magic has never gone away.”

Now preparing for his third Paralympic final, McGregor continues to pursuit his first gold medal while leading with compassion and inspiring the next generation of athletes.

“Reclaiming gold would mean everything to our programme,” said McGregor. “Not only would we have reached the pinnacle of the sport, but we want kids in Canada to see us, hop in a sled, and dream of that moment for themselves.”

McGregor was introduced to Para ice hockey in 2011 at 15 years old. He made the Canadian national team in 2012 and won bronze in his first Games at Sochi 2014. Since then, McGregor has earned two silver medals in the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Games. 

Years of international experience have shaped both his approach to the game and his role in the locker room. Ahead of Milano Cortina 2026, McGregor said fans should expect to see his aggressive playstyle and maturity.

“I’m walking in with more gratitude, wisdom, and composure,” McGregor said. “I play with a lot of energy, I take pride in being hard on the forecheck, and I’m good at finding open goals.”

Who Is Better?🧐
🇨🇦 Brandon Hagel vs Tyler McGregor 🇨🇦

With the @olympics & @paralympics at @milanocortina2026, we are comparing players from different areas of the sport.

Read the duel 🔗 https://t.co/1kQcBltYAq#Paralympics #ParaIceHockey pic.twitter.com/Gz8hmg7iTd

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) February 14, 2026

Leading on and off the ice

One of McGregor’s favourite parts of the build-up to the Games was the countless hours spent with his teammates. This time together strengthens team bonding and allows him to embrace his leadership role.

“I want to lead with compassion and make our team a safe place to make mistakes and learn,” said McGregor. “Nobody is perfect, including myself.”

McGregor leads off the ice as well. A single-leg amputee due to spindle cell sarcoma, he is a stout advocate for cancer research. Notably, McGregor trekked 67 kilometres between 2022 and 2023, raising $135,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation’s research efforts. He also serves on the board of Canada’s Make-a-Wish Foundation and has fundraised for other organizations including the London Children’s Hospital, where he was treated.

When not training, McGregor enjoys playing folk music on guitar, golfing, watersports, and spending time with his fiance, Meg, and dog, Mila. The first thing McGregor plans to do after the Games is plant an orchard at his hobby farm.

But before that, he has a mission to finish as Canada meet the USA for a third consecutive Paralympic final on Sunday at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

“It will be special. They are our biggest rivals. They've taken a couple of gold medals away from us in the past couple of Paralympics, and it would obviously be special to get some revenge on them,” McGregor said after the semifinal against China.

Fast Facts

Hometown: Forest, Ontario
Favourite post-game ritual: Listening to “Rockstar” by Nickelback in the locker room with his teammates.
Teammate most likely to make McGregor laugh: Vincent Boily.
Favourite Italian food: Pizza with prosciutto and arugula