A new, electrifying version of Canada's national sport is gaining momentum and changing lives at a renowned Toronto facility. Volt hockey, a fast-paced game played in nimble, battery-powered carts, has become a beacon of success and independence for athletes with mobility challenges at Scarborough's Variety Village.
The Wayne Gretzky of Volt Hockey
At the heart of this story is Bhavjeet "Bav" Sandhu, a 21-year-old captain of the Variety Vikings. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age ten, Sandhu has not walked since and has limited arm mobility. Yet, on the gym floor, he commands his cart with a simple joystick, becoming what his coach calls the Wayne Gretzky of Volt hockey in Canada.
"There was a time when Volt was the only thing holding me together," Sandhu revealed. "I was unhappy most of the time, but one day a week I got to play Volt and it changed everything. In this, I can do anything. And at a high rate of speed." The specialized carts can reach up to 14 km/h and spin effortlessly.
From Local Hub to International Competition
Variety Village pioneered the sport in North America seven years ago, after it was invented in Denmark in the 1990s. The sport has grown so rapidly that the Village now fields two teams: the Vikings and the Vipers. The program has even launched a junior prospects division.
The team's skill has evolved significantly. Coach Alex McLean notes that players have matured from simply wanting to score goals to executing structured plays and smarter defence. This development was evident when the Village squad won a surprise silver medal at their first World Cup in Gavle, Sweden. Sandhu's dedication is so profound that he once joined a Danish team for a tournament in Sweden, learning basic Danish and Swedish to communicate with teammates.
Recognition and a Growing National Scene
The impact of Volt hockey is now receiving formal recognition. The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto has included a Volt hockey stick and wiffle ball in a new exhibit highlighting hockey offshoots for people with disabilities.
The sport is also expanding across Canada. While Variety Village long dominated the national scene, it recently placed third at a tournament in Calgary—its first-ever loss in North America. Coach McLean called it a "good wake-up call," noting that teams in Alberta, Manitoba, and other parts of Ontario are becoming increasingly competitive, a sign of a healthy, maturing sport.
Sandhu dreams bigger, envisioning a formal national league and even live broadcasts of games. He already runs a YouTube channel, 360 Volt Hockey, to promote the sport.
More Than a Game: Building Confidence and Community
The benefits extend far beyond the gym floor. Sandhu's father, Harjeet, has seen a dramatic transformation in his son. "He was very shy as a little kid… but his confidence has grown by leaps and bounds," he said. "And my dream of being a hockey dad has come true."
Beyond athletics, Sandhu is in his third year of computer science at Ontario Tech University with a keen interest in artificial intelligence, and he maintains a rigorous physiotherapy schedule.
The Volt hockey community is also giving back. Parents of the Variety Village teams, embodying the classic Canadian hockey parent spirit, have raised more than $8,000 for the 2025 Sun Christmas Fund, understanding firsthand the vital role the Village plays in their children's lives.
As Volt hockey continues to charge forward, it's clear this adaptive sport is doing much more than providing recreation—it's empowering athletes, building community, and securing a lasting place in Canada's sporting landscape.
