Para Hockey Kick-Off Celebrates Community, Growth, and Opportunity

September 8, 2025 – Para hockey participants from across Alberta came together to celebrate the start of a new season in one of Canada’s most inclusive sports.

The event was more than just an opportunity to get players back on the ice. It served as a celebration of para hockey’s community spirit, the dedication of athletes and coaches, and the continued growth of the sport across the province. Participants ranging in age from eight to fifty-six took to the ice, sharing their love for the game while building connections that will last throughout the season.

A key highlight of the two days was the opportunity for athletes to work with Tara Chisholm, Provincial Program Director with the Paralympic Sports Association and head coach of Canada’s Women’s Para Hockey National Team. Chisholm led players through a series of drills and skill stations designed not only to prepare athletes for the season but also to inspire confidence and teamwork on the ice.

“We’re seeing the beginning of real momentum from both provincial and national organizations, bringing more resources and opportunities for the Para hockey community,” said Chisholm. “I am really excited to see what takes shape over the next few years when it comes to the development of our sport.”

Alongside the on-ice sessions, the event also included marketing and promotion opportunities designed to help grow the sport even further. Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada were on hand to capture content that will be used to promote para hockey initiatives and highlight the new Para Hockey Coaching Module. The goal is to provide resources that make the game more accessible to coaches, athletes, and families across Canada, ensuring that para hockey continues to thrive.

For athletes like Reid Hintz, the sport is about more than competition, it’s about inclusion and opportunity. “I think it’s important that everyone can play sports,” Hintz explained. “Like, you see your friends playing [stand up hockey], but you know you can’t do that. Now you can do something like them.”

That message resonates across Alberta, where para hockey has seen steady growth in recent years. Currently, seven clubs operate across the province, providing opportunities for players of all ages and abilities:

• Edmonton Adaptive Sports Association

• Edmonton Sled Hockey Club

• Paralympic Sports Association

• Calgary Sledge Hockey Association

• Wolverines Wheelchair Sports Association

• Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport & Recreation

• Team Jigger (Lacombe, and Central Alberta)

Together, these organizations are helping to build a strong foundation for the sport, ensuring that para hockey remains a welcoming and inclusive option for athletes and families across Alberta.

As the season begins, the excitement and momentum from the kick-off are sure to carry forward. With more athletes joining every year and new resources being developed for coaches and clubs, the future of para hockey in Alberta is brighter than ever.

For the players who left the rink smiling, tired, and inspired, the weekend was more than just a season opener, it was a celebration of what makes para hockey so special: opportunity, community, and a game for everyone.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is excited to announce the return of the Female Coach Development Network (FCDN) for its third year, continuing to create meaningful opportunities for female coaches across the province.

The FCDN is designed to connect, educate, and empower female coaches involved in Hockey Alberta programming, helping to strengthen their knowledge, confidence, and leadership in the game.

For the 2025/26 season, the program will be adding two in-person gatherings and continuing with monthly meetings, providing coaches with multiple touchpoints to learn, collaborate, and grow their networks. These sessions will focus on key areas of coaching development, mentorship, and leadership both on and off the ice.

“The Female Coach Development Network is about building a strong community where female coaches feel supported and valued,” said Danielle Wheeler, Manager of Female Development. “By offering both in-person and virtual opportunities, we can connect coaches from across Alberta while ensuring flexibility and accessibility.”

Since its launch, the Female Coach Development Network has supported approx. 70 female coaches at various levels of the game, from grassroots to elite programming each season. Entering year three, the Network continues to play a pivotal role in developing female coaches and ensuring that coaches have the tools and confidence to succeed.

Female coaches interested in participating in the Female Coach Development Network can learn more and register through Hockey Alberta’s website here.

Hockey season is just around the corner, an exciting time for players, parents, coaches, officials, volunteers, and communities across Alberta. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned hockey family, being well-prepared can make all the difference in creating a smooth, stress-free, and memorable season for everyone.

1. Gear Check

Make sure all equipment fits properly and is worn the right way, from neck guards, helmets, and properly fitted skates. Safety starts with the basics. Just as important, double-check that all the equipment and essentials you’ll need for practices and games are packed in your hockey bag, so you’re never missing key gear when you arrive at the rink. Being prepared keeps players safe, confident, and ready to focus on the game.

Proper sizing, placement, and maintenance of equipment goes a long way in ensuring player safety.

2. Be an engaged member of your Minor Hockey Association

Stay connected! Follow your local MHA on social media and check their website regularly for updates, schedules, and important announcements. Beyond just following, take time to familiarize yourself with your association’s processes, policies, and parent expectations so you know what’s required and how you can support. Also, look for opportunities to get involved, hockey truly runs on volunteers. Whether it’s helping on the bench, organizing events, or supporting behind the scenes, every contribution makes a difference in creating a positive experience for players and families. Staying connected and engaged not only helps your team succeed but also strengthens the larger hockey community.

3. Try-Outs

During tryouts parents should focus on encouragement rather than the outcome. Tryouts can be stressful, anxiety is high, and kids often feel pressure to perform and impress coaches. By emphasizing effort, sportsmanship, and personal growth instead of just making the team, parents can help foster resilience and a love for hockey.

Celebrate the courage it takes to try, and remind them that every experience, whether a triumph or a setback, is an opportunity to learn and grow. This supportive perspective not only eases anxiety but also builds confidence and lifelong skills both on and off the ice!

4. Stay Organized

Mark game days, practices, and tournaments on a family calendar. Staying ahead of the schedule helps reduce stress during the busy season.

5. Fuel Up Right

Encourage healthy meals and hydration before and after ice times. Proper nutrition helps young athletes perform and recover.

Health and Lifestyle >

6. Respect in the Rink

Model positive behavior in the stands, on the ice, and anywhere in the rinks. Players, coaches, and officials thrive in supportive environments where respect is shown by everyone. Consider signing the Players Pledge, change starts within, and Hockey Alberta is challenging all teams to participate in a team building activity, recognize the Player Pledge and commit to actions of safety, inclusion, and respect throughout the 2025-2026 season. Know how to bring forward concerns and take action to ensure a safe and respectful environment in the rink.

Visit the Players Pledge and Online Players Program or contact Carlia Schwab, Manager, EDI and Safe Sport, at [email protected] with your teams interest.

7. Celebrate Milestones

Do you know a player who just hit a big milestone? A volunteer who always goes above and beyond? A coach who is making a real impact? Or maybe a special event or initiative that’s helping grow the game in your community?

We want to hear about it! At Hockey Alberta, we’re always looking for inspiring stories that showcase the people and moments making a difference in our game.

These stories help us celebrate the dedication, passion, and accomplishments happening across the province, but we need your help to find them.

If you have a story, please email us at [email protected] so we can highlight it through our channels and shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals and communities that make hockey in Alberta so special.

8. Balance On and Off the Ice

Remember: hockey is important, but so are school, friends, and family. Striking a healthy balance keeps the season enjoyable. Hockey is often described as a physical game, as important as physical fitness is, so is everyone’s mental health. Hockey Alberta is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all participants. Check out our Mental health recourses and helplines that offer supports for all Albertans.

9. Parent Role in Safety & Injury Awareness

Parents play a key role in ensuring player safety. Review the Pre-Season Concussion Education Sheet to better understand, recognize, and follow return-to-play protocols. Remember, injuries can happen even when proper precautions are taken. If an injury occurs, the Hockey Canada Injury Report Form should be completed within 90 days, even if insurance does not seem necessary at the time of injury or recovery.

• Pre-Season Concussion Education Sheet

• Hockey Canada Injury Report

10. Enjoy the Experience and Have Fun

At the end of the day, hockey is about more than just winning games. Hockey can be competitive, but the priority is creating positive experiences. Celebrate the small victories and enjoy the game, we’re building hockey for life. Before the season starts and emotions run high, sit down with your players and collaboratively write down goals for their sports experience. Keep this list close by and refer back to it throughout the season to help maintain your focus on the bigger picture. Hockey gives everyone a chance to compete, learn, and grow, but most importantly, to have fun.

✔ Encourage your player to take it all in – the excitement, the teamwork, and the friendships.
✔ Celebrate their efforts, no matter the outcome – Every shift, every save, and every play contributes to their development.
✔ Make it a family memory – Years from now, you’ll remember the laughs, the road trips, and the excitement more than the scores.

Soak in every moment, because these experiences don’t last forever!