About the Team

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

Canadian national sledge hockey team.jpg

Canada’s National Para Ice Hockey Team (also known as the sledge hockey team) is one of the most successful programs in Paralympic sport. Managed by Hockey Canada, a nonprofit organization, the team has earned multiple Paralympic medals — including gold in 2006 and silver in 2018 and 2022 — and continues to inspire fans worldwide with their skill, speed, and determination.

Now, the team is training and competing on the international stage as they prepare for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy. With athletes from across the country, including Ottawa, the team represents not only elite performance but also the values of inclusion, resilience, and national pride.

Supporting the team means helping cover the costs of specialized sledges, travel, training, and coaching, ensuring Canada’s para athletes have the resources they need to chase gold in 2026. Together, we can help keep Canada at the top of the sledge hockey world.

Meet The Hosts

Kaia Lyn Hartley

Chair-
I first got involved in the sledge hockey community in 2012 through my brother, who plays the sport, and my “Uncle Doug,” who introduced both of us to parasport. I started out as an on-and-off volunteer and quickly grew connected to the players, families, and the sense of community around the sport. Over the years, this involvement became a passion that has shaped both my studies and my career goals.

I care deeply about sledge hockey because I’ve seen firsthand how it creates opportunities, builds confidence, and fosters inclusion for people of all abilities. As someone living with a disability myself, I know the value of adaptive sport and recreation, and this perspective also guides my work as a personal trainer and my education where I focus on adaptive fitness and independent living to help clients achieve their goals in ways that work for them.

Looking ahead, I hope this fundraiser will not only raise money for Team Canada, but also spread awareness about the importance of parasport in building stronger, more inclusive communities. For me, this event is about more than just meeting a fundraising target — it’s about inspiring others to see the impact of adaptive sports and encouraging ongoing support in the future.

Amy Paisley

I have experience playing hockey and ringette on adaptive teams. I’ve played on these teams for several years and have done some public speaking for both of these teams. My hockey team is called the Capital City Condors, and my ringette team is called Ringette For All a.k.a RFA. I got involved with these organizations because I’ve always wanted to play hockey ever since I watched my brother play and I was inspired to play ringette after watching one of my friends' games.

I care about this organization because everyone should get a chance to play no matter what their abilities are. Having organizations like this makes it easier to have no barriers to participation, and I’m all in for more organizations like the Paralympics. I’ve seen a lot of discrimination against people with disabilities and it’s not fair, everyone should be treated equally.

My hopes for the future is to see more programs where everyone gets to participate and having more accessible programs for everyone. This is my hope for the future because the organizations I play for are growing bigger every year and I feel like that should be happening everywhere.

Louise

I care about adaptive recreation because I have learned how important recreation is as an outlet for people. Whether you enjoy going for a walk with music, like I do, going running with a buddy or having a game of basket ball, it is an important outlet for a person’s mental health. I believe this is also true for those who need adaptive sports as an outlet or a way to get together with friends and have a game of wheelchair basketball, for example, because we all need that seratonin for our mental health. I hope to learn how adaptive recreation can fit into a recreation program and how many recreation programs there are for people to ‘Play It Forward’.

Muhammad

I got involved in organizations like this because I’ve always been passionate about making a meaningful impact in my community and wanted to be part of something larger than myself. What drew me in initially was seeing how dedicated the members were and how aligned the mission was with my personal values. I care deeply about this organization because it addresses issues that I believe are important, and it gives people a platform to create real change. My hope for the future is that we continue to grow and reach even more people, creating lasting solutions rather than temporary fixes. Being involved here also directly relates to my education and career goals–it gives me hands-on experience, helps me build skills like leadership and communications and reinforces everything I’ve learned in the classroom or workplace.

Deng Lual

Hey, my name is Deng Lual and I’m a second-year student in the Recreation and Leisure Services program at Algonquin College. I’m passionate about recreation and love organizing and participating in activities that bring people together and create a positive, inclusive environment. Basketball is my favorite sport, and through it, I’ve learned the value of teamwork, leadership, and community. I enjoy helping others and believe recreation can be a powerful tool for improving well-being and building stronger communities. I’ve been involved in various community programs, and those experiences have inspired me to keep making a difference. In the future, I hope to use my interests to create sports and recreation programs that promote inclusion, connection, and positive energy for everyone involved.