On February 1st, Special Olympics Edmonton hosted its annual Joey Moss Invitational Floor Hockey Tournament. The event welcomed 19 teams and over 300 athletes from across the province. Every athlete showcased their incredible talent, determination, and passion for the sport.
One of the key elements that makes Special Olympics competitions so enjoyable is the positive community spirit among the coaches, staff, families, volunteers, and, most importantly, the athletes. When athletes at this year’s tournament were asked about their favorite part of competing with Special Olympics, they overwhelmingly said they loved spending time with their teammates and coaches. “I like having so much fun, being around everything going on, and I get to feel young again, even though I’m not the youngest player,” shared athlete Curtis Liddicoat.
The Joey Moss tournament has been an annual tradition for many years, and this years event was especially meaningful as it marks the final year that floor hockey will be played at a provincial tournament. In alignment with Special Olympics Canada, floor hockey will soon be retired as a competitive sport and replaced with floorball. While similar to floor hockey, floorball is a unique sport with different equipment, fewer players per team, and a ball instead of a ring. The switch from floor hockey to floorball will be a significant change for many athletes who have enjoyed playing floor hockey, but many are looking forward to the new sport. Evan James, a Special Olympics athlete who has been playing floor hockey for years, shared his excitement for the transition to floorball. “I look forward to a new challenge that will allow me to develop new skills and push myself as an athlete,” he said. To learn more about floorball, Special Olympics Alberta's newest sport, click here.
In addition to the action-packed competition, this year’s event also featured Healthy Athlete health screenings, presented by Special Olympics partners. The Healthy Athletes initiative focuses on providing athletes with an opportunity to learn more about their individual health needs and how these impact their athletic performance. The health screenings at the Joey Moss tournament were led by Clinical Directors Sunny and Jason, with assessments completed by volunteers from the University of Alberta’s Physical Therapy Students’ Association. During the tournament, these volunteers helped assess nearly 50 athletes, offering valuable insights into their well-being and helping them optimize their performance on the playing field.
This year’s Joey Moss tournament was an undeniable success! Congratulations to all the athletes who participated, and a huge thank you to everyone who made the event possible and ensured the athletes’ safety on and off the field.
By: Naomi Eykelbosh