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

The USA’s Women’s Para Ice Hockey Foundation has announced it will host a women’s Para ice hockey development camp from 4-7 June in Vierumäki, Finland, marking another significant step forward in the global growth of the sport.  

The camp is designed to increase women’s participation in Para ice hockey and will be open to up to 30 athletes and 10 staff members from around the world, with a particular focus on supporting athletes from nations that do not yet have established women’s programs. 

Sanctioned by World Para Ice Hockey and led by Team USA standout and long-time advocate Monica Quimby, the camp will take place at the Vierumäki Olympic Training Center, one of Europe’s premier high-performance sport facilities.  

Participants will receive lodging, meals, and local transportation, helping reduce financial barriers and make the camp accessible to athletes from a wide range of backgrounds and regions. 

“With this camp, we are continuing to grow the game by developing more countries and female Para ice hockey athletes from around the world,” Quimby said.  

"We are officially on the Paralympic track after our first Women's World Championship in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia and we are preparing the next generation to compete at the highest level.  The camp will cover and build on the sport’s fundamentals – skating, stick handling, shooting and game-like scenarios"- in addition to classroom sessions covering nutrition, off-ice training, information on classification and more. The aim is to set up athletes for success to then develop a program in their home country.  

“Success at this camp would mean that the female athletes gain stronger skills, more confidence and ultimately, pursue the Paralympic dream,” Quimby said. "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.” 

Fostering growth

USA’s Women’s Para Ice Hockey Foundation fosters the growth of the sport and empowerment of female athletes, advocating and providing support and funds for training, development and competition at the highest level for female athletes from all nations. The foundation helped raise funds for previous World Para Ice Hockey Women’s Challenges, in addition to providing equipment around the world for athletes. 

"We are excited to continue our mission with World Para Ice Hockey in creating this international event to bring more people with disabilities into the sport that we love,” Quimby said. 

Women’s Para ice hockey has seen rapid growth in recent years, evolving from grassroots efforts into a structured international movement. For decades, Para ice hockey opportunities were primarily available to men, with women often joining men’s teams or having limited access to development pathways.  

In response, athletes, coaches, and organizations began pushing for dedicated opportunities for women, leading to the formation of development camps, international exhibitions, and eventually formal competitions. 

One of the most significant milestones in that growth came with the introduction of the World Para Ice Hockey Women’s Challenges. These events brought together women athletes from multiple nations, many of whom were meeting and competing internationally for the first time. 

That momentum culminated last year with the inaugural World Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, held in Dolný Kubín, Slovakia. The championship represented a historic breakthrough for the sport, officially placing women’s Para ice hockey on the pathway toward Paralympic inclusion. The event not only validated years of advocacy and development work but also energized national programs and aspiring athletes across the globe. 

The cost to attend the long-weekend camp is $60 USD (€50), plus transportation to Finland from each participant’s home country (by flight, train, or car). Registration should be completed via a Google form. 

Any enquiries may be sent to monica.quimby@womensparahockeyfoundation.org, with applications closing on 6 March 2026.