CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada announced that Jeff Snyder of Elmira, ON will be the Head Coach of Canada’s National Sledge Hockey team for the 2006 Paralympics taking place in Turin, Italy March 10-18, 2006.

Snyder has been the Head Coach of Canada’s National Sledge Hockey team for the past 2 years. The sledge hockey team competed in the World Cup in Denver, CO, last week, finishing with a silver medal after losing their first game of the year in a shoot-out to Norway 4-3.

“I am extremely excited to be involved with such an amazing group of athletes. Any time you get the opportunity to represent your country it is an incredible honour,” stated Head Coach Jeff Snyder.

Team Canada will hold three tryout camps, one in May and two in June, with the locations to be announced at a later date. There will also be team testing in Calgary, AB on July 14-19. Team Canada will participate in two International competitions before the Paralympics, once in Berlin, Germany at the beginning of December, and then Team Canada will face the USA during the World Juniors in Vancouver at the end of December.

Johnny Misley, Vice President of Hockey Operations for Hockey Canada is excited about having Jeff lead the team in Turin.

Jeff has done a tremendous job with our Men’s National Sledge Hockey team this season and we feel that under his leadership this team has a great chance at competing for the third gold medal in Turin, Italy“ said Misley.

Assistant coaches for the Sledge Hockey team will be named in the next month.

Hockey Canada has just completed its first full season overseeing and managing the sledge hockey domestic and international program. Sledge hockey has been fully integrated within Hockey Canada’s day to day operation since approval by the Hockey Canada Board at the 2004 Annual General Meeting in Thunder Bay, Ontario.