Update from the IHA Board on Para Hockey

 Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) Board want to share some updates of activity in the Para Hockey space. 

2026 C-Pool Championships in Mexico

IHA have made the difficult decision that we cannot with fiduciary responsibility send a mixed Australian team to Mexico for the C-Pool competition this year. With costs estimated to be over $5,500 per player, we did not receive enough firm expressions of interest to make participation financially viable. This decision has been made with careful consideration and financial responsibility. We acknowledge that this is disappointing, and we want to make it clear that this does not mean we are stepping away from developing para ice hockey in Australia or from our international pathway. 

Building The Program Nationally

IHA have recently established a National Para Ice Hockey Committee, made up of both men and women from across the country. The committee is focused on making decisions and planning for the development of para ice hockey nationally. They recently held their first meeting and plan to meet monthly as they continue working together on national competitions, events & the future direction of para ice hockey in Australia.

2026 Women's World Championships in Newcastle NSW

We can now confirm that Newcastle NSW will be hosting the Women's Para Ice Hockey World Championships in November 2026.
This is a significant step forward for Women's para ice hockey in Australia and an important part of building the international pathway.
To progress towards the Paralympic Games, we need to have two national competitions with at least eight participating teams.
At present, we have five teams, with four other countries also currently working towards developing women's teams.

This means that 2030 is a realistic goal for the Women's Paralympic pathway — but to get there, we need to continue building the foundations now. Hosting this World Championship event in Newcastle is a major part of that process. It gives us the opportunity to showcase women's para ice hockey, continue building the sport internationally and contribute to the development of the teams and competitions needed for the future pathway.

Perth WA Camp: 16–18 October 2026

IHA are holding a Para Camp in Perth WA from 16–18 October 2026 and this is a great opportunity to bring everyone together. The camp will include training drills, games & competition and classroom learning. Participation at this camp requires players to commit to all aspects of the camp, including the on-ice sessions, games and classroom work. Please direct interested players in your state to contact Lynda Holt (lynda.holt@iha.org.au), IHA's Head of Para Hockey for more information.