General Information Wheelchair hockey began unofficially in 1990 at the University of British Columbia with the booking of a facility by several new wheelchair users. Without a large pool of athletes the play was recreational. In 1991, a small group of recently injured young guys at G.F. Strong started shooting the ball around with cut down hockey sticks. Little did they know they were about to bring Canada's great game to disabled athletes around British Columbia. In 1998, it was discovered that there was a league operating in Los Angeles. The Vancouver squad left for L.A. to compete in a tournament but after a hard fought battle eventually lost in the final. In 1999, wheelchair hockey joined BCWSA. There are now enough participants in the Lower Mainland for two teams to compete on a regular basis and run both a developmental and advanced program. Hockey is being promoted throughout BC and an annual tournament is hosted, inviting players from Canada and the USA. Players of every skill and experience level are invited to participate. Wheelchair hockey is a fun, fast-paced sport for men, women and juniors, which includes individuals with a wide range of disabilities. Classification accommodates differing levels of functional ability on a scale of 1-3 with able-bodied participants permitted to participate at the class 3 level.