Team PEI 2024's Floor Hockey Team will be represented by 16 athletes at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024 - Billy Acorn (Brackley Beach), Brandon Younker (Milton Station), Eric Couglin (Charlottetown), Geoff Bridges (Charlottetown), Jennifer Hickox (Charlottetown), Jeremy Wall (Summerside), Jerred Affleck (York), John Anthony Laybolt (Johnston's River), Keegan Waite (Summerside), Khol Ward (Rose Valley), Lisa Bernard (Stratford), Micheal Airbourne (Charlottetown), Patrick Cronin (Charlottetown), Shawn Mitchell (Charlottetown), Teri Cudmore (Charlottetown) and Tommy MacGuigan (Charlottetown). They are supported by coaches, CY Holland, Jeff MacKenzie, Peter Howatt, Mel Demi, and Jason MacDonald .
Team PEI Floor Hockey is looking to continue on their success of the past 2 sets of National Games. At both the 2020 and 2016 Games Team PEI Floor Hockey won Gold in their division. At the Special Olympics National Winter Games 2024 they will be looking for the three-peat! The 2024 Floor Hockey team has 2 athletes who are attending National Games for the first time - Khol Ward and Patrick Cronin. On the other end of the experience spectrum is Tommy MacGuigan, who has attended 20 National Games!
Team PEI's Floor Hockey coaching staff brings a strong mix of experiences as they work together to support their athletes. CY Holland and Peter Howatt combined have over 70 years volunteering with the Charlottetown Floor Hockey program. Both were also on the coaching staff during the 2004 National Winter Games in PEI, when White Juan brought a history making blizzard to the province. Despite all the hurdles, Team PEI won the Gold in front of a home town crowd. All these years later, those Games remain a favourite memory for both CY and Peter. The Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024 will be the first National Games for both Mel Demi and Jeff MacKenzie. Mel is an Apprentice Coach through the Special Olympics Canada NextGen Coaching Apprenticeship Program. Jeff has been volunteering with Special Olympics, with both Softball and Floor Hockey, for 5 years, after first being introduced to Special Olympics while at the University of Fredericton. Jason MacDonald is attending in a support role, and is looking toward to watching our Team PEI athletes compete against other athletes from across Canada.
In February / March of 2024, Special Olympics PEI will be represented by 33 athletes, supported by 21 coaches and mission staff, at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024 in Calgary, Alberta. Team PEI will compete in 7 sports: 5-Pin Bowling, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing, and Speed Skating. Be sure to follow along between now and February as we continue to Meet Team PEI 2024!
Supporters of Special Olympics PEI are invited to follow Team PEI 2024, both in the lead-up to, and during the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024! Our Team PEI 2024's website will be updated with schedules and results during the Games, and our social media channels - Facebook and Instagram, will have photos and up to the minute news and highlights.
SUPPORT TEAM PEI
If you would like to support Team PEI 2024's Floor Hockey Team as they train to represent PEI at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024, please consider either Drafting an Athlete or donating to the Team PEI Booster Club.
