Auren Halbert will carry Calgary’s flag into the next chapter of Canada’s national para hockey program.
The Calgary defenceman is among 25 players invited to a six-day selection camp, running Sept. 20-25 at the North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex in Surrey, B.C.
The camp opens a new four-year cycle for Canada following its silver-medal finish at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Italy.
Halbert was part of that Paralympic roster and brings another Calgary connection to camp. He also helped Canada win gold at the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship at WinSport.
Hockey Canada’s camp roster includes three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards. Sixteen invitees return from the Paralympic silver-medal team: Rob Armstrong, Vincent Boily, Shawn Burnett, Dominic Cozzolino, Adam Dixon, James Dunn, Halbert, Tyrone Henry, Liam Hickey, Anton Jacobs-Webb, Adam Kingsmill, Micah Kovacevich, Zach Lavin, Mathieu Lelièvre, Tyler McGregor and Corbin Watson.
Halbert is one of two Alberta players from the Paralympic roster attending the camp. Edmonton forward Kovacevich gives the province another representative in the 25-player group.
There is Alberta influence behind the bench, as well. Head coach Boris Rybalka is from Camrose, while assistant coach Steve Arsenault is from Spruce Grove. Wes Wolfe and goaltending coach Dominic Larocque round out the coaching staff.
“We are excited to get back on the ice as we start the next Paralympic quad and make the most of our time together,” Rybalka said in the Hockey Canada release.
Rybalka said the camp will bring players together after work in smaller training hubs. Practices and on-ice skills sessions will be part of the evaluation process, which concludes with an intrasquad game.
The selected group is preparing for the International Para Hockey Cup, scheduled for Oct. 18-24 in Nymburk, Czechia.
Calgary will return to the program’s schedule after that tournament.
Canada plans to hold a mid-November training camp in the city before travelling to Paradise, N.L., for the 2026 Para Cup from Nov. 29-Dec. 5.
For Halbert, the Surrey camp provides an early opportunity to help set the standard as Canada turns from its silver-medal finish toward another international cycle.
