The competition, which takes place at the South Fletcher's Arena in Brampton, Ontario, Canada until Sunday (November 9), will see teams from Canada, United States and Europe - featuring players from Finland, Norway, The Netherlands and Great Britain - battling for the inaugural title.

"We have known for a long time that ice sledge hockey has huge potential to be popular with fans around the world and this was confirmed with the success of the men's matches at Sochi 2014 [Winter Paralympic Games]," Jessica Korber, the IPC's sport manager for ice sledge hockey, said.

"Our aim is for a generation of young women, inspired and excited by what they saw at Sochi, to have more opportunities to try-out and compete in sledge hockey.

"There has never been a better time to join the growing number of people taking up this adrenaline-fuelled sport."

The event, which is being organised as part of the Sixth Annual Cruiser's Cup Sledge Hockey Tournament by Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled, will see each team playing each other twice before the bronze and gold medal matches are decided on Sunday.

Sunday will also feature "friendship", where the teams will be mixed for a series of games.

"The IPC Ice Sledge Hockey International Women's Cup is the first ever internationally sanctioned women's sledge hockey tournament in the world and as a leading country on ice, we are proud that our event will be the catalyst for growth and awareness of international women's hockey," said Ken Hall, director of sledge hockey for Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled.

Those interested in trying out women's ice sledge hockey should contact their National Paralympic Committee for events taking place near them. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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