Jason La Rose
Hockey Canada is committed to being a leader in para hockey, doing its part to grow the game across the country and around the world. As the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games get underway this weekend in Italy, Canada’s Paralympic Hockey Team will go in search of a second gold medal on the biggest stage in para sport.
But with financial support from the Hockey Canada Foundation (HCF), there is a continued focus on the women’s game, an evolving piece of the para hockey puzzle.
Currently, women’s para hockey—which is operated in Canada by Women’s Para Hockey of Canada (WPHC)—is not part of the programme at the Paralympic Winter Games, but Hockey Canada is working closely with World Para Ice Hockey and the International Paralympic Committee to advocate for its inclusion as early as the 2030 Games in the French Alps.
While that advocacy continues, the HCF has been a driving force behind the development of the women’s game, and that support has not gone unnoticed.
Even though we are not officially under Hockey Canada, the Hockey Canada Foundation has supported us in meaningful ways. Over the past few years, we have built a positive and collaborative relationship, and its involvement with Women’s Para Hockey of Canada continues to grow each season. Because of existing policies and the fact that women’s para hockey is not yet part of the Paralympic Games, it is not currently possible for us to be fully integrated under Hockey Canada or to access the same level of resources, funding and opportunities as our male counterparts. That is why this partnership matters so much—it helps bridge the gap and shows a genuine commitment to the growth and future of women’s para hockey in Canada.
-- Raphaëlle Tousignant (Alternate Captain, Canada’s National Women’s Para Hockey Team)
The Hockey Canada Foundation’s belief in women’s para hockey has meant so much to our athletes and staff. Its support is not only helping our team prepare for international competition, but also inspiring the next generation of girls to see that they belong in this game.
-- Tara Chisholm (Head Coach, Canada’s National Women’s Para Hockey Team)
For the 2025-26 season, the HCF awarded WPHC a $150,000 grant to assist with everything from grassroots programming to preparations for the first-ever World Women’s Para Hockey Championship, which took place last summer in Slovakia (Canada finished with silver, falling to the United States in the gold medal game).
HCF funding has also allowed Canada and the U.S. to face off in a pair of border series—in 2024 in Minot, North Dakota, and 2025 in St. Catharines, Ontario.
With the support of the Hockey Canada Foundation, we were able to travel to represent Canada at the inaugural women’s world championship this past summer in Slovakia. By supporting our team and helping us get there, we were able to make the largest step in our journey to becoming a Paralympic sport. Being able to compete in our most important competition to date has meant the world to me and my teammates; representing the country is something we never take for granted. It means a lot to be backed by the Hockey Canada Foundation, so we are able to continue to show up and show the world what we can do as a country, and what we can do as women in our sport.
-- Alannah Mah (Alternate Captain, Canada’s National Women’s Para Hockey Team)
And while the Paralympic push is a key piece of the puzzle moving forward, the connection to the grassroots of the game is an important one.
Much like their able-bodied counterparts with Canada’s National Women’s Team, the members of Canada’s National Women’s Para Hockey Team see a simple formula for the continued growth of women’s para hockey—if they can see it, they can be it.
We have seen a significant surge in the number of women and girls picking up a sled across Canada. This growth is directly linked to Hockey Canada Foundation funding, which supports developments camps and builds a visible high-performance program. For the first time, there is a clear, tangible pathway: a young girl starting at the grassroots level can now see a direct line to the world championship. Knowing that a future in this sport is possible and supported is a powerful motivator that is changing the landscape of para hockey.
-- Peggy Assinck (Athlete Representative, Women’s Para Hockey of Canada)
And so, the journey continues—for the Hockey Canada Foundation and Women’s Para Hockey of Canada.
To a stronger sport.
To a new generation of Team Canada role models.
And, one day, to the first-ever women’s para hockey tournament at the Paralympic Winter Games.
The fact that a respected and influential federation like Hockey Canada—and the Hockey Canada Foundation—is more willing than ever to step in and contribute reflects significant progress compared to past years. Their support sends a clear message that they now value women’s para hockey and are committed to achieve equity in the sport. This message continues to help build momentum towards the potential inclusion of women’s para hockey at the Paralympic Winter Games, because I believe that other major federations and countries will look to our example and take similar steps to support and grow women’s para hockey in their own programs.
-- Raphaëlle Tousignant
This partnership has helped women’s para hockey grow from a developing program into a rising force in Canadian sport. With the Hockey Canada Foundation beside us, we’re building something sustainable and moving closer to the day when women’s para hockey has a place on the Paralympic stage.
-- Tara Chisholm