Kingsville’s Corbin Watson returns home with Paralympic silver medal

Corbin Watson in Kingsville, Ont. ion March 22, 2026. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

A strong showing that resulted in a silver medal in Para ice hockey at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympics has left Kingsville, Ont., native Corbin Watson with mixed feelings.

Watson, one of the team’s netminders, returned home late Thursday night after weeks overseas, which ended in heartbreak.

Canada fell 6-2 to the U.S. in the gold medal match, the nation’s third consecutive loss to the Americans at the Paralympic finals.

“It was a tough gold medal game, but it was such an experience to look back on it now that it was… It was a learning experience for me still, and I still can’t change it, but I loved playing in that game,” Watson said.

Watson, who has suited up in three Paralympic Winter Games, described the 2026 roster as a “family” who entered the tournament hungry to win.

“We had so much love for each other. We picked each other up when we needed to, and we had each other’s backs, and this group was so special,” Watson said.

Canada’s 2026 roster included Watson, Wallacetown, Ont.’s James Dunn, Zach Lavin of Essex, and Captain Tyler McGregor, who grew up in Forest, Ont. and now lives in Windsor-Essex.

“Hey, it sucks to lose to win, but still to be able to be standing there on that podium getting that silver medal, it’s still a fantastic accomplishment, ” Watson said.

A return home for Watson came with an added surprise. Outside his home, a new large sign, built by his nephew, is draped with a Canadian flag and Watson’s jersey number.

“I couldn’t fully register it, but it’s like, oh my God, look at the sign that they made and put up,” he recalled.

“Then more in the morning when I woke up, was how much I appreciate what they’ve done and how the community has supported me throughout this entire experience.”

Standing outside his Kingsville home, cars passing by regularly honk at Watson, seemingly as a sign of appreciation for the goaltender’s showing on the biggest stage.

Throughout the tournament, the Kingsville community showed support for Watson, including a watch party at his children’s school for one of the team’s games.

“I cannot believe it had so much support and love from the community and helped me and pushed me, knowing that the community was behind me, giving me all that love and experience, love and emotion that I could perform my best,” he said.

Reflecting on his time in Italy, Watson said, it was “special” because his family was there in support.

“It was such an incredible experience to be able to live this moment in Italy, live the moment with my family, being right there, watching every game,” he added.

For now, Watson won’t see much of a break as he returns to the ice in Kingsville to continue playing before a summer break.

As for his time on the Paralympic stage, Watson, 39, isn’t ruling out one final push for gold in 2030.