(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Historic Moment for Women’s Para Hockey as Canada Prepares for Inaugural World Championships
Canada’s women’s Para Ice Hockey team is set to make history, competing in the first-ever Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia. The tournament, running from Tuesday through Sunday, features six teams: Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia, Norway, and a Team World composed of players from nine countries. Canada opens its round-robin play against Team World.
Veteran athlete Christina Picton, who competed as a nordic skier at the 2022 Paralympics due to the absence of women’s Para hockey at the Games, called the milestone “bittersweet.” She said, “I always dreamed of being at the Paralympics with my women’s hockey team. Now, we’re taking a big step toward making that dream a reality.”
Canada’s head coach Tara Chisholm, at the helm since 2013, emphasized the importance of the championship. “We’re not just building a team; we’re helping create the history of the women’s game. These championships will be remembered forever,” she said.
The inaugural tournament is a critical step toward achieving inclusion in the 2030 Paralympic Games, with World Para Ice Hockey planning at least two more women’s world championships before submitting a proposal to the International Paralympic Committee.
Currently, Para hockey at the Paralympics is mixed-gender, but only three women have ever competed. Canada’s Raphaëlle Tousignant, who made history in 2023 as the first woman to play for Canada at a major international competition, described the progress as “surreal.” She added, “It was time for it to happen. Now our female athletes can finally play on the big stage.”
Women’s Para hockey in Canada has historically operated outside the Hockey Canada umbrella and without Sport Canada or Own The Podium funding. Since the program’s inception in 2007, players often paid thousands annually for training and competitions. The new world championships have drawn corporate sponsors, easing the financial burden and bringing unprecedented attention to the sport.
Picton, a national team member since 2010, reflected on the program’s evolution: “This being a world championship has brought a lot more media and attention. Corporate Canada now understands the gravity of this event.”
Chisholm added, “Elevating the program to a world-class level has taken a decade of work. The dedication and competitiveness of our athletes match any other funded program, even though many still pay their own way.”
The 2025 Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Championships mark a historic milestone and pave the way for a future where women’s Para hockey will gain the recognition it deserves on the global stage.
