Paul Rosen

In 1975, while playing hockey as a teenager in an AAA midget game, Paul broke his leg in 14 places after catching his skate in a rut. About 24 years after the initial break and 23 surgeries later, his leg became infected following knee replacement and had to be amputated above the right knee. It wasn't too long after his last surgery that Paul began to play sledge hockey with the Markham Islanders in 2000. Just two years later, he catapulted into the international spotlight as the goalie for Team Canada at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. Canada finished fourth in those games. However, through determination and great team work Paul and his team mates returned from the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games with gold medals in hand. Paul was recognized as the oldest rookie in the history of the Paralympic Winter Games when he debuted in 2002 at age 41. He has been a member of Canada's National Sledge Team since 2001 and has recently been playing competitive sitting volleyball. Paul's introduction to volleyball came during a Canadian Paralympic Committee's "Soldier On Paralympic Sport Summit" designed to introduce injured soldiers to a variety of Paralympic sports. Rosen was helping teach the soldiers about ice sledge hockey and dropped into the sitting volleyball session. After that, he became a member of Canada's sitting volleyball team at the 2007 Parapanamerican Games in Rio DE Janeiro, Brazil. Paul works as a motivational speaker and is a spokesperson for "Shoot for a Cure," an organization that offers hope and resources for those suffering from spinal cord injuries. He has coached the Canadian Amputee Hockey Team to world championship gold medals in 2003 and 2004. Martin Brodeur, another gold medalist Canadian goalie, is Paul's favorite NHLer, while his favorite team is the Chicago Blackhawks. Before games, Paul likes to listen to music, usually the Tragically Hip or any Canadian artist. Rosen, who lives in Thornhill, Ontario, describes himself as a 50-year-old who acts like he's 20. If he could eat dinner with anyone he would choose runner Terry Fox whom he considers the ultimate Canadian.