The Town of Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador, will host an international para ice hockey tournament this fall that brings together the world’s top teams. The 2026 Para Cup is set to take place from November 29 to December 5, 2026, at the Paradise Double Ice Complex. According to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, this marks the second time Paradise (and the province) has hosted the Para Cup — the first time was in 2019.
Four top-ranked teams from around the globe will compete, including Canada’s national squad. Local fans may have a chance to see hometown stars Liam Hickey and Gavin Baggs on home ice: Hickey has been named to Team Canada and was at the announcement, while Baggs has said he is hopeful he can make the national squad. CBC News noted both athletes as a major local draw for the event. The tournament is an international para ice hockey (sledge hockey) competition in which athletes play while seated on sleds.
The provincial government is providing a $30,000 grant through Celebrate NL to help the town run the event and attract visitors to the region. As reported by NTV News, the tournament is expected to provide an economic boost to local hotels and restaurants during the late-autumn/early-winter period. Organizers expect to soon begin recruiting more than 100 volunteers to help with everything from greeting visiting teams to managing game-day tasks. The Paradise Double Ice Complex includes design features — notably retractable boards and seating arrangements — that facilitate para hockey by improving sightlines for athletes seated in sleds.
