Para Hockey Cup Recap – December 1

There have been a lot of big changes in Matteo Pellizzari’s life over the
past seven months.

Back in April, the 15-year-old was playing for BC Hockey’s provincial para
hockey team, with scrimmages twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturday. Now,
he is working out daily and travelling across the country for training
camps ahead of his international debut at the Para Hockey Cup in
Bridgewater, N.S., as the youngest member of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team.

“It’s kind of been a whirlwind, but it’s been really good,” the Vancouver,
B.C., native says.

Pellizzari was born without his fibulas in both of his legs—a rare
condition called bilateral fibular hemimelia. He became a double-leg
amputee from the knee down when he was one year old.

“It’s the only thing I’ve ever really known,” Pellizzarri says about being
an amputee. “I honestly can’t imagine my life any other way.”

There have been many opportunities that Pellizzari has been able to pursue
due to his amputations. He is actively involved in the War Amps Child
Amputee Program (CHAMPS) and was previously featured in a War Amps
commercial, brochures and on parade floats. As he got older, he started to
volunteer for CHAMPS to give back to the program that has given him so
much.

“They’ve made all the difference in my life. They’ve provided me with so
many opportunities,” he says. “They pay for all my recreational
prosthetics… they even actually paid for my first (para hockey) sled that I
ever got that was custom made for me.”

The assistance from CHAMPS opened the door for Pellizzari to try playing
multiple sports. He enjoys volleyball, running, swimming and golfing, but
his true passion has always been para hockey. Pellizzari first got on the
ice when he was four years old.

“I distinctly remember the first time I played. I felt like I was going so
fast, it was so awesome,” he says. “I fell in love on day one, it was a
love at first sight.”

At first, Pellizzari learned the fundamentals of para hockey with other
kids his age. However, it quickly became evident that he had a natural
talent for the sport, so he moved up to playing with the adult teams when
he was nine years old.

“I started playing with 30-year-old, huge men that played for Team B.C….