Canada’s women’s Para ice hockey team secured the top spot in Group B and advanced to the semifinals with a commanding 7-0 triumph over Great Britain at the inaugural Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia. Defender Christina Picton netted two goals, while forward Aubree Clements contributed a goal and three assists, earning a remarkable plus-six rating.
With this victory, Canada is on course to potentially face the United States in the tournament final. Team USA claimed the top spot in Group A after a dominating 10-0 win against Norway, setting up a semifinal clash with Great Britain. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals on Saturday, with the medal matches scheduled for Sunday.
Featuring six teams including Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia, Norway, and Team World comprising players from nine nations, the competition will run until Sunday. Fans can catch all the action live on the Paralympic YouTube channel and the World Para Ice Hockey Facebook page.
World Para Ice Hockey aims to host at least two women’s world championships before proposing women’s Para ice hockey as a standalone sport in the 2030 Paralympics to the International Paralympic Committee governing board. Currently, Para ice hockey at the Paralympics is mixed-gender, with only three women, two from Norway and one from China, having participated. This gender gap is evident in the Winter Games, with women making up just 24% of the 564 athletes in Beijing.
Women’s Para ice hockey operates outside of the Hockey Canada structure, although the governing body’s foundation serves as a significant sponsor. The national team does not receive funding from Sport Canada or Own The Podium. Since its establishment in 2007, players have shouldered substantial costs for training camps and competitions. However, the financial landscape is evolving, as corporate sponsors and supporters stepped in to cover the expenses for the recent world championships, alleviating the burden on players.