For Greg Westlake, coming out of retirement to rejoin the Canadian para hockey team isn’t just about chasing a second gold medal. It’s about something far bigger-showing his kids, Dylan and Annie, what it means to take risks and chase dreams.

“For my son to see me skate around the ice in a Team Canada jersey,” Westlake said from Milan on Sunday, “It’ll be a moment where all the physical pain and mental hurdles I’ve faced this year will feel worth it. Because I want my kids to be risk-takers.

“I want my kids to go after the things they want in life, and I want to set that example for them right out of the gate.”

At 39, Westlake’s return to the team is a gamble. His window narrows with every sunrise. Every grind, every stride, every bead of sweat weaves a living story-a knuckles-bloodied, heart-thumping ode to resilience.

“The why [to come back] was just pure competitiveness,” Westlake admitted. “I desperately want one more chance at a gold medal. And when I talked to my loved ones-my parents, my wife-the message was consistent: If you love it, if you want to do it, and if you think you’ll have regrets if you don’t, then you absolutely should go for it.’”

After the 2022 Beijing Games, Westlake thought he’d hung up the sled for good. He traded his sticks for a whistle, joining the national team as an assistant coach. In 2024, he helped guide Canada to a World Championship title, snapping a seven-year drought.

But the itch to compete never left.

“I think it’s more me readjusting now. Like, I wasn’t gone too long. It was only, you know, a year and a half, two years. I think that if I were never coaching with the program, I don’t think I’d be here right now.

“And so the good thing was, is I I kinda knew the work that was cut out for me. I saw how fit, how hard the guys were, how tight they were. And so immediately, coming in, I knew, first and foremost, you have to fit into the group. That’s a big part of team sport.”

In Canada’s opening game Saturday, an 8-0 win over Slovakia - Westlake logged 15 shifts, good for 16:07 of ice time, a +1 and he took one penalty.

Canada takes on Japan Monday in their second game.

Westlake is the last remaining member of the 2006 Canadian squad that captured gold in Turin-the last time Canada stood atop the Paralympic podium.

“At that time, we’d just been taken over by Hockey Canada,” Westlake recalled. “We’d only been under the high-performance umbrella for about a year and a half going into ’06. We didn’t have the resources we have now.

“When I look at the guys today, the biggest change-other than sleds and technology-is the access to resources. High-level coaching, video analysis, strength trainers, nutritionists, sports psychologists… you name it.

“Back then, we were just a group of passionate Canadians who desperately wanted to grow the sport. Now, it’s a team of finely tuned athletes with every resource they need to succeed.”

Westlake’s return isn’t just about his own legacy-it’s about the team. Head coach Boris Rybalka knew it the moment they spoke.

“When he and I talked in August about his comeback, I knew he was the piece of the puzzle that would win gold,” Rybalka said.

“He’s shown the younger players what hard work and dedication look like. He’s worked extremely hard to get into shape and be a contributor on and off the ice.”

Born in North Vancouver in 1986, Westlake’s journey began with a challenge. A congenital defect led to the amputation of both legs before he was two years old. But that didn’t stop him. By 2001, he was tearing it up with the Mississauga Cruisers. By 17, he was wearing the maple leaf on his chest.

Fast forward to today, and his career reads like a hockey fairy tale: Canada’s second all-time leading scorer with 369 points in 240 games. Paralympic gold in 2006. Three World Championship titles. Nearly a decade as captain.

But it’s not just the stats. It’s the heart. The grit. The leadership.

Westlake’s return to the ice isn’t just a story-it’s a statement. A reminder that champions don’t quit. They simply … rise.

TAIT: Canada starts Paralympic hockey with a victory

Canadian men's para hockey team ready to take the ice in Milan