Variety Ontario is proud to be hosting the inaugural North American VOLT hockey tournament presented by the Maple Leafs Alumni Association on May 27-28, 2023. The tournament will welcome teams from Alberta, London, Manitoba, Ontario, and Boston. The goal of the tournament is to have fun while providing kids an opportunity to play VOLT competitively ahead of the VOLT World Cup in Sweden.
VOLT hockey is an accessible form of hockey that is played in a specifically designed hockey sport chair by people with a variety of disabilities, particularly those with limited upper mobility. For many of these children, it is their first opportunity to play on a team and learn valuable life skills such as team building, competition, and social inclusion. VOLT hockey is played by over 50 teams in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United States, and now in Canada. To learn more about VOLT hockey, visit varietyontario.ca/volt-hockey-canada/.
“We are excited to be hosting this tournament and providing an opportunity to kids of all abilities to play Canada’s national sport,” Karen Stintz, President and Chief Operating Officer of Variety, said. “We are grateful to the GTHL and the Maple Leafs Alumni Association for their support and commitment to get kids off the sidelines and into the game.”
The tournament – to be played on location at Variety Ontario in Scarborough – will begin on Saturday, May 27 and conclude with playoff games on Sunday, May 28. Tournament play and the officiating team will be organized by the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).
“The GTHL is proud to support this inaugural event and to be associated with the important opportunities created by the staff at Variety Ontario and their colleagues from across Canada and the United States,” Scott Oakman, GTHL Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, said. “Hockey can be played in many different ways and supporting opportunities that include everyone is a vital step to growing the game. Hockey provides many benefits and events such as the first North American VOLT hockey tournament are significant in ensuring the sport can be enjoyed by anyone.”
In 2016, the Children’s Charity launched the first Canadian VOLT hockey team in Toronto. With help from donors and sponsors, Variety was able to launch a new team and expand opportunities for children with a disability to play. The sport has since expanded, seeing growth of teams in London, Niagara, Newmarket, and soon to be Barrie, Ontario, in addition to national expansion. Six years later, the first North American VOLT hockey tournament presented by the Maple Leaf Alumni Association will soon be played.
The event is open and welcome to spectators at no cost. Those looking to attend the tournament are asked to register via Eventbrite here.
For those able and interested in supporting the tournament and Variety Ontario, donations can be made via varietyontario.ca here.
ABOUT VARIETY THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY OF ONTARIO
Variety Ontario programming empowers children with disabilities to be seen, participate, and feel included. Variety brings accessible facilities to life with sports, fitness, activities, summer camps, skills training, and coaching for competitive and Paralympic athletes. Through local partnerships, Variety extends this reach through accessibility training and education.
ABOUT THE GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Founded in 1911, the GTHL is a non-profit organization and the largest minor hockey league in the world. The GTHL registers more than 40,000 annual participants in Markham, Mississauga, Toronto and Vaughan. The purpose of the GTHL is to govern organized hockey for youth within its jurisdiction, and to foster participation that reflects the cultural demographic of the League’s territory while promoting an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all participants.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Coratti
Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing
Greater Toronto Hockey League
SCoratti@GTHLCanada.com
