Troy Benson wouldn’t know who he was without the game of hockey. His passion for the beautiful yet violent sport bred him into one of the best deaf hockey players on the planet. 

“I love this sport and I wouldn’t be who I am without it,” he said. “The adrenaline rush I get from the speed and intensity of the game is unmatched. I’ve always had that competitive nature from competing with my two older brothers. We always wanted to be better than each other.”

The University of British Columbia campus will host the best deaf athletes from all across the globe from May 7-17 for the fourth World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship. Benson’s sights are set on feeling another gold medal draped around his neck. 

“I am proud to be representing the USA. It’s a real honor and privilege to wear the jersey,” Benson said. “Not everyone gets a chance to play for team USA and luckily I am one of them.”

Benson never saw his impaired hearing as a disability. He instead sees it as a direct challenge to improve. 

“People who see me as a disability because of my hearing also challenge me to become a better hockey player to show them that hearing loss isn’t a disability. I am thankful for what it’s given me and all the opportunities it has brought,” he said. 

The World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship (WDIHC) is finally making a comeback after an eight-year hiatus. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the 2021 tournament back to May 2025. Benson will headline USA’s roster in Vancouver in early May during the fourth WDIHC.

Although every person’s experience with impaired hearing is unique, the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) and International Committee of Deaf Sports (ICDS) agree on the qualifications as “requirement of a 55 DB loss in the better ear to qualify for the US Deaf Ice Hockey team.” Things like hearing aids and cochlear implants aren’t allowed during competition to further level the playing field.

Benson suffered a hernia in infancy. The treatment he received likely saved his life, but had a damaging effect on his hearing. His hearing saw a steady decline throughout his childhood, which helped thicken his skin and formulate a unique attitude. 

“Attitude is everything,” he said. “You can overcome anything with the right attitude and believing in yourself. Don’t let others tell you that you can’t do something.”

Benson’s drive and spirit make him a stellar role model for kids all over the Roaring Fork Valley. He practically runs the Glenwood Ice Rink and is far and away the best player on the ice whenever he laces up his skates, although he would never say that about himself.

“Being a role model for the younger generation is very cool,” he said. “It’s nice to see the smile and the excitement they get for this sport. I love being able to teach and watch them grow as players. I never consider myself a better player than anyone. Everyone has their own unique style of hockey and mine is speed and control.”

When Benson first made the USA roster way back in 2013, he felt as if he had to prove his abilities to the world. Now, after seeing his name on his sixth USA hockey roster, he has first hand experience that he is excited to pass down. 

“Being a veteran player, I know what is expected of me and what to be prepared for at the next tournament,” he said. “After not making the roster the first time I tried out, it made me shift gears and work harder until I did make the team. It taught me that life can be hard, but with the right attitude you can accomplish your goals. I have already experienced the type of mental grind and pressure it takes to make the team.” 

Benson, a Glenwood transplant from Detroit, knows what it takes against elite talent. He was a budding 27-year-old during the 2017 WDIHC and was 29 the last time he represented the USA during the 2019 Deaflympics in Valchiavenna, Italy. Now, as a USADSF veteran, he is excited to take a mentorship type role for the younger players. 

“By being an experienced player, I like to help others achieve their goals and improve their skills. Watching those I have helped succeed always brings me great pride,” he said. 

His competitive nature won’t let him forget about the mission at hand though. Benson grew up the youngest of three brothers, subconsciously instilling an undying competitive nature deep inside. The intense competition between brothers and friends has always been a driving factor for Benson and that has followed him throughout his life. He already has two gold and a bronze medal on his mantle and is looking for more. 

“Who wouldn’t want to win another medal?” he joked. 

Benson’s unique experience with team USA has brought him all over the globe and to the heights of physical joy. 

Team USA had a tough go of things during Benson’s first experience with the team during the 2013 WDIHC in Vantaa, Finland. Two years later, Benson felt his first medal hung around his neck as Team USA took Bronze in the 2015 Deaflympics in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Since then, Benson has been inflicted with King Midas’ touch. The past two events hosted by the ICDS have seen Team USA crowned as the best hearing impaired hockey team in the World. No matter their hearing ability, the USA and Canada have been battling for hockey bragging rights over the past six years.

Benson was able to celebrate on familiar ground in 2017 when they beat Canada in the WDIHC championship game in Amherst, New York, and then flew across the Atlantic two years later for a rematch in the 2019 Deaflympics in northern Italy. Team USA took gold again in Italy and Benson is searching for that feeling at least one more time.

“Winning the gold medal for your team and your country is a feeling I’ll never forget,” he said. “I don’t want to have any regrets. People have always told me to play hockey as long as you can, or else you are going to look back and say ‘I wish I could have done more.'”

As the pattern usually goes, attention surrounding the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA) is quiet, and Team USA asks for a contribution, no matter how big or small, to help them make their trip to Vancouver. 

“Your contribution, no matter the amount, will make a substantial difference and will be deeply appreciated. It will enable me to focus on training and competing without the added stress of financial constraints. Your support will not only assist me in pursuing my passion but will also be a testament to the power of community and the strength of our bonds,” Benson says in a letter. 
Visit the AHIHA website to make a donation. The funds will be sent directly to the fundraising cause and will contribute 100% to travel funds.