LEDUC, Alta. – Canada’s National Sledge Team welcomes Korea, Russia and the United States to Leduc starting Sunday, as four of the top sledge hockey teams in the world go for gold at the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, Feb. 1-7 at the Leduc Recreation Centre.

The tournament is the first major international event since the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, and marks the start of the four-year journey to the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The field in Leduc includes the three medal-winning teams from Sochi (United States – gold; Russia – silver; Canada – bronze), as well as the 2018 Paralympic hosts from Korea.

Canada’s National Sledge Team is looking for its sixth gold medal at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge, having won in 2013 in Toronto, Ont., November 2011 in Calgary, Alta., April 2011 in London, Ont., 2008 in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and 2007 in Kelowna, B.C. Canada claimed the silver medal at the 2009 tournament in Charlottetown, and 2012 in Calgary.

Canada opens the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge against Korea at 5 p.m. MT on Feb. 1. Semifinals are scheduled for Feb. 5, while the puck drops Feb. 7 at noon MT for the bronze medal game and 5 p.m. MT for the gold medal game.

The gold medal game of the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge will be aired on TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada. Check local listings for broadcast times.

All preliminary round games, as well as the semifinals and bronze medal game, will be available live and free through FASTHockey webcasts on the game summary pages at www.hockeycanada.ca/wshc.

Full-tournament ticket packages for the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, including six preliminary round games, both semifinals, the bronze medal game and gold medal game, are still available for just $50 each. 

In addition, single-day passes go on sale Feb. 1 at the Leduc Recreation Centre and online at www.hockeycanada.ca/wshc; passes are $10 for the preliminary round (Feb. 1-2, Feb. 4), $12 for the semifinals (Feb. 5) and $15 for the medal games (Feb. 7).

CLICK HERE for more information on tickets, including how to purchase.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Jason La Rose, Hockey Canada’s manager of content services, will be on-site during the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge and can be reached for tournament information and interview requests at 403-703-8791 or [email protected].

For more information on the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wshc, and follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/worldsledge or www.twitter.com/hc_wshc.