Locals help team win open division of largest sledge tourney in the world

BARRY’S BAY – It’s not everyday you get asked to play in the world’s largest and longest-running sledge hockey tournament. But when you do, you readily agree.

That’s what Barry’s Bay’s Chadd Stoppa and Wilno’s Cayden Beanish did when they were asked to join the Kawartha Blazers in the open division of the 2020 London Blizzard Invitational, held from January 24 to 26 at the Western Fair Sports Centre in London, Ontario.

Stoppa, a Grade 7 student at St. John Bosco, and Beanish, a Grade 9 student at Madawaska Valley District High School, play together on the Bay Blades sledge hockey team.

Stoppa’s mom, Anita Jessup, said the Kawartha Blazers required two more players for the invitational, and asked if any Bay Blades players wanted to attend.

“Often, if teams don’t have enough players, they will reach out to other teams to fill in the rest of the roster and they were short two,” Jessup explained.

Stoppa said he was happy to be invited.

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