A HIGH-STAKES HOMECOMING

By MARIO ANNICCHIARICO

For Adam Kingsmill, Christmas has truly come early.

The Smithers, B.C.-born goaltender with Canada’s para hockey team, will finally have an opportunity to play in front of friends and family in his home province as Dawson Creek will play host to the Para Cup, November 30 to December 6 at the Ovinitiv Events Centre.

The tournament features para hockey teams from China, Czechia, the United States, and host Canada.

“I'm pretty stoked,” the Smithers Minor Hockey Association product said of competing in B.C. “It's going to be my first time playing in B.C. since I've made the national team or since I kind of moved away from home, so it'll be pretty special to play on home territory again.”

“Especially with my family coming out. I think they've only been able to watch me live three times during my eight years of playing, so it'll be pretty special to have them in the stands.”

Mom and dad, Bobbie and Graham, will be joined by his aunt and uncle, Gail and Rupert.

“They're always huge supporters and they're not too far away in Prince George,” Kingsmill said of his aunt and uncle. “My parents are from Smithers so it’s a little bit longer of a drive for them, but still, it's a lot closer than a lot of other places that we play, that's for sure.”

“They’ve played such a huge role in it all. The four of them have played such a huge role on my development getting here, so it'll be nice to have them in the stands. To be able to talk to them after games, it will give you that sense of home with a little extra relaxation, I guess, and that puts my mind at ease.”

The tournament itself will give Canada one last opportunity to prepare for the Paralympic Games in Italy in 2026, although the team might sneak in some exhibition games in January.

However, the opportunity to play Canada’s nemesis, the United States, on home ice will also make this tournament that much more special.

“It's always fun getting to play the States here because Hockey Canada versus the United States is always a huge driver, so when we're playing them here, we feel the whole country on our side,” said Kingsmill.

“We know that they have our back, and it's like that wherever we go. We always feel that love and having some schools able to come out to watch some games will be an extra boost. You know that we'll have an army behind us.”

Which could be of great assistance in trying to topple the always tough Americans, who have defeated Canada in seven of the last eight meetings, including two in overtime. Their last victory against the States was on March 29, a 2-1 win in the third of a three-game exhibition series between the two nations in Ontario, in which Kingsmill made 17 of 18 stops.

Prior to that, it was a clutch 2-1 Canadian win in the gold medal game of the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship in Calgary, where Canada was outshot 25-9, a final that Kingsmill played a huge role in.

“Yeah, I mean they're a dominant team. They have been for years and years now. They've got a great program and some phenomenal players in there, but we have a very deep roster on our team,” said Kingsmill, now 25.

“This has been the best program year that I've ever been a part of. This team is so close, and the staff is so close. The guys have really taken to our new changes. (This challenge) is going to be a lot of fun and all the props to them, but we were a dominant force this year. Even though they've had our number, I think we’re the country that everyone looks for and wants to beat and we’re that top-tier team.”