Access & Policy

Women's para ice hockey goes global

Shawn Maloney

10 Feb 2026 — 1 min read

An international development camp in Finland will help identify and motivate the next generation of women's para ice hockey players.

The camp will take place at the Vierumäki Olympic Training Center, June 4–7, 2026. There will be up to 30 players and 10 staff members invited to attend, with an emphasis on emerging nations.

The development camp will be hosted by the Women's Para Hockey Foundation and led by Team USA player, Monica Quimby. A committed advocate for the sport, Quimby described the multi-faceted mission of the event:

“Success at this camp would mean that the female athletes gain stronger skills, more confidence and ultimately, pursue the Paralympic dream... It is about identifying both emerging talents and motivating them to help build their own Para ice hockey teams. We're not only growing women's Para ice hockey; we are expanding our community worldwide and creating the next women leaders in our sport.”

Women's para ice hockey (also known as "sled hockey" or "sledge hockey") has experienced significant growth in the past decade, culminating the inaugural Women's World Championship in Slovakia last summer. The U.S. topped Canada in the historic gold medal matchup, with tournament MVP Kelsey DiClaudio scoring this incredible goal in the first period of the game.

After years of advocacy, the world championships were a significant milestone on the path to Paralympic inclusion. The competition energized programs all over the world. Now, this collective and social approach to athlete development may help more nations break through.

It is encouraging to see how ideas, techniques, and equipment are shared across international lines and between competitors in para sport. This transfer of knowledge is essential in complex sports like para ice hockey. The athletes, coaches, and administrators all understand that they need each other for these unique games to grow from grassroots to global competition.

Applications for the Women’s Para Ice Hockey development camp are open until March 6th.

Learn more

Women's Para Ice Hockey development camp announced to boost global participation

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