She's The First

I could probably write 2000 words about Raphaëlle Tousignant and not even mention hockey, but I kind of need to mention it when talking about her on HBIC. She is, of course, the first woman to make the Team Canada Para Hockey Team - a team that was exclusively men up until this year's World Para Hockey Championship - and she likely won't be the last to smash through that glass ceiling. Tonight, though, she became and will always be the first woman to have recorded a goal while playing for the recognized team of Team Canada at any event. That achievement deserves congratulations and kudos as Raphaëlle Tousignant is officially in the history books.

It should be noted that this isn't the first time a woman has suited up in competition with its official para hockey squad. There have been three women notably who have played in the Paralympics as Norway's Britt Mjaasund Oyen played in 1994 at Lillehammer and fellow Norweigan Lena Schrøder in 2018 in Pyeongchang while China's Jing Yu suited up for the host country in Beijing in 2022. Again, Tousignant is the first for Canada - long overdue, might I add - so she's breaking barriers at home, but she could be the first Canadian woman to do so if she goes to Italy with the team in 2026.

That being said, Tousignant was awarded the 14th Canadian goal in a 15-1 win over Korea tonight, but, as seen to the right, that was corrected after the game as Vincent Boily was credited with the goal. The 20 year-old Tousignant is still looking for her first point as a member of Team Canada, but it seems to only be a matter of time based on her play. She looked more and more comfortable as the game against Korea went on, and it seems like she's finding good chemistry with her linemates.

I tried to get video of the goal that was incorrectly awarded to Tousignant just to see how close it was, but the broadcast of the game had gone to commercial when the goal was scored. With Canada having such a large lead in the game, I understand wanting to get the game finished, but a moment like Tousignant scoring shouldn't be lost due to a commercial. Thankfully, it wasn't.

For those that don't know, sledge hockey or para hockey doesn't get a lot of support when it comes to national hockey federations, and we've only seen the first women's teams really break into playing seriously. The 2022 Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge in Green Bay, Wisconsin was where Tousignant really broke out as a player, and that's where I need to put a checkpoint because we still don't have a women's para hockey competition at the Paralymics, and it seems like a World Championship isn't on the docket either.

Women's sledge hockey is in its infancy, but this is where the world should be jumping into the mix since the game is still in its early stages. The 2022 Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge featured four teams - USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Team World - which is enough to have preliminary games, but if we're aiming for a 2030 Olympiad or even sooner with a World Championship, we need countries like Czechia, Korea, China, Japan, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and others to make the commitment to the game by seeking out players, funding its growth and teams, and organizing games. Heck, Hockey Canada and Hockey USA need to do a better job themselves, but at least they have enough players to form a team.

We celebrated players like Angela James, Cammi Granato, Angela Ruggiero, and Geraldine Heaney for leading the way in helping to put women's hockey on the map, and the same could be said for players like Tousignant, Katie Ladlie, Catherine Faherty, and Aubree Clements. These are the women who have been putting sledge hockey on the map, and they can and should be celebrated like James and Granato are. They're among the best of the best when it comes to their teams and peers, adn we should be supporting them and doing all we can to help them earn an opportunity to play for a gold medal with their teams rather than simply having one para hockey event at the Paralympics.

In making that plea, seeing Raphaëlle Tousignant skate with the men is highly encouraging that we're not far away from having a women's sledge hockey tournament at the Paralympics or at a World Championship. She's an incredible woman with amazing talent, and she should be an inspiration to both disabled and able-bodied people who want to try sledge hockey. If it's not already obvious, she has a fan in me!

Raphaëlle Tousignant is the first Canadian woman to play in any World Para Hockey Championship. She's likely going to be the first Canadian woman to record both a goal and a point at this championship, but I have a feeling she will not be the last. And, in time, perhaps the women will have their own tournament where they'll set records and find accolades as the games are played. It feels like we're standing on the precipice of that moment, but it's not quite here yet.

When it does arrive, though, Raphaëlle Tousignant will be one of the people we need to thank. Let's hope that happens sooner rather than later so we can watch her excel in the women's game as well!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!