Calgary is currently where Adam Kingsmill currently calls home, but northern B.C. is where his heart remains.
The Smithers resident has been named to Canada’s national men’s para-hockey roster for an 11-day training camp, which began this week in the southern Alberta city.
Kingsmill is a 20-year-old goaltender in the sport formally known as sledge hockey, soon to be 31 in March this year.
At age two, he lost his right leg below the knee in a lawnmower accident and spent six weeks at the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, more than 1,150 kilometres away from home.
He donned a prosthetic leg, but that hasn’t stopped him from playing stand-up hockey as well, making the Smithers Storm rep minor hockey team in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
At one point, Kingsmill even tried out for the Cariboo Cougars Under-18 AAA club.
On the international stage, he only has two games under his belt resulting in 5-0 and 2-0 setbacks to the United States in April and May of 2016.
He’s currently a safety ambassador for War Amps of Canada and was recognized by the Town of Smithers earlier this month.
“It was an honour to be able to present the certificate of appreciation to Adam,” said Mayor Gladsy Atrill in a Jan. 6 release.
“Despite the trauma of losing his leg in early childhood, Adam rose to be a role model to other amputees. Smithers is proud of the contribution that Adam has made.”
Kingsmill will take the ice later today (Jan. 20) at WinSport Arena with Canada’s best para-hockey athletes as he sets sights on representing his country once again at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
Meanwhile, Quesnel’s two-time paralympian James Gemmell was invited to the national men’s training camp, but is classified as ‘unable to participate.’
The 40-year-old has won two golds and two silvers from World Championships in a red and white maple leaf sweater, along with his 2018 Paralympic silver and 2014 Paralympic bronze.
Hockey Canada’s national para men’s training camp runs until Jan. 25.
