BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – The Hockey Canada Foundation is doing its part to develop women’s para hockey across the country, presenting Women’s Sledge Hockey of Canada with a $50,000 grant to support the team and its TrailblazeHERs project.

The project, launched in 2019, focuses on growing the female para game through inclusion, coach education, female mentorship and fan engagement. This week, Canada’s national women’s para hockey team gathered in Bridgewater, N.S., to showcase its sport, including a session for coaches, open practices and a pair of games against an Atlantic all-star team.

“The support from the Hockey Canada Foundation towards the TrailblazeHERs project has enhanced what Women's Sledge Hockey of Canada is able to offer to girls and women looking to get involved in the sport of para hockey,” said Tara Chisholm, head coach of the national team. “Not only will this grant create opportunities for coaches to be trained and new females to get exposed to the sport, it has generated excitement around the Team Canada locker room.”

The TrailblazeHERs stop at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre featured a free open practice for women and girls to learn and develop their para hockey skills. The on-ice session included members of Team Canada and was focused on allowing women with injuries and disabilities to find their place in hockey.

“This is just another part of our commitment to empowering women and girls to play hockey,” said Donna Iampieri, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “Canada’s women’s para hockey team is a champion of not only female hockey, it provides an option for women and girls that have an injury or disability to still be involved in the sport.”

As a part of the event in Bridgewater, Randy Pulsifer, a member of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors, was on hand to present the national team with the $50,000 grant, which will help support the team’s annual costs, including its trip to Richmond, B.C., in the spring to take on the United States.

For more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/Foundation.