In 2011, Yellowknife played host to the Canadian MenSA国际影视传媒檚 Para-Hockey Team so it only made sense that the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 squad would follow suit.

It took them a couple of years to do it but they finally came North and have made it a very important week for the team.

The Canadian WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Para-Hockey Team is hosting its team selection camp in the capital and everything got underway on Monday morning at the Multiplex. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the first time the team has been together as a unit since the pandemic began; the last camp of this sort was in 2019 with camps in between time being either regional get-togethers or virtual meetings.

The task of putting together the national team belongs to head coach Tara Chisholm and sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been getting a good look at the players who are vying for a chance to wear the maple leaf in international competition.

She said Yellowknife was chosen as one of the sites for a camp when the team put in a grant request.

SA国际影视传媒淲e received funding from the Hockey Canada Foundation and in our ask, we actually wanted Yellowknife as one of our camp locations,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of Covid-19, we had to keep delaying our selection camp because it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 safe to travel yet. Yellowknife was next on our agenda and so we decided to bring everyone here.SA国际影视传媒�

The feeling among the ladies when they got the news that they would be heading North? Genuine excitement.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of them were so excited because many of them have never been here before,SA国际影视传媒� said Chisholm. SA国际影视传媒淭he passion among this group, as much as it is playing, is to spread the awareness of para-hockey around Canada. Anytime we get the chance to go into a new community, especially a new territory, theySA国际影视传媒檙e very excited to meet the people on the ground and see the amazing work being done here.SA国际影视传媒�

Day one of the camp on Monday saw the ladies hit the ice for their first practice, followed by on and off-ice fitness testing. Each subsequent day of the camp has seen the team practice in the morning with grassroots training sessions in the afternoons. The only exception was Thursday as there was nothing scheduled on-ice for the ladies. Mixed in to the schedule were two Red vs. White intrasquad games and the first of those games happened on Wednesday evening with Team White emerging victorious in overtime, 3-2.

Chisholm said a lot of what goes on this week will make up a sizable chunk of the decision-making that will go into choosing the team.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l be picking the top women from the high-performance group that will represent the country at the WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 World Challenge happening this summer,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Where that will be exactly is still a mystery but Chisholm said it will be happening somewhere in North America.

One of the people who was heavily involved in getting the team to come is Sharon Oldford, whose son, Riley, is one of the most well-known para-hockey players in the city.

Oldford said itSA国际影视传媒檚 a full-circle sort of deal when it comes to having the team here.

SA国际影视传媒淚n 2018, (menSA国际影视传媒檚 para-hockey player) Tyler McGregor came to do a player development session for us and Tara and Derek (Whitson, womenSA国际影视传媒檚 assistant coach) came up that spring to do a coaching clinic,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e formed a bit of a relationship with them over the years and so when it was time to do a camp for the women, we were very excited that they chose to come here. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 come full-circle, in a way.SA国际影视传媒�

Being that itSA国际影视传媒檚 selection camp makes it mean a bit more, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese ladies are out there fighting for their chance to be on the national team and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 exciting to watch,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Before the Red vs. White game on Wednesday, the community got the chance to strap on a sled and head out onto the ice to give it a try and the turnout was rather impressive, said Oldford.

SA国际影视传媒漌hen the men came in 2011, there was a really good turnout and I thought they might have to take shifts,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭his time, we did have to take shifts and seeing so many people come out to try it was amazing.SA国际影视传媒�

One of those giving it a try was Nevaeh Dusome, who said it was her second time strapping herself into a sled.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was really fun,SA国际影视传媒� she said SA国际影视传媒淚 liked learning more about it. Every time I fell, I just got back up. I tell people itSA国际影视传媒檚 really fun and itSA国际影视传媒檚 not as hard as it looks.SA国际影视传媒�

When sheSA国际影视传媒檚 not trying out para-hockey, Leah McShane can be found on the cross-country ski trails and she said being in a sled is similar to what she does out on the trails.

SA国际影视传媒淭he last time I did it, I was six, which was seven years ago,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 have an idea of how it works now and skiing helps because itSA国际影视传媒檚 almost the same motion as double-poling.SA国际影视传媒�

Para-hockey does have a foothold as part of the Yk Minor Hockey Association as there is already a Saturday morning session when the season is on.

Oldford said the numbers have reached the point where there is enough to field at least one team but there is room to grow.

SA国际影视传媒淭he goal is to have enough for two teams,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檇 really like to have them play against one another so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 our next step. We also have a goal next year of starting an adult program. ISA国际影视传媒檝e had lots of adults asking about playing so that would be another exciting opportunity.SA国际影视传媒�