Women’s sport is experiencing a surge of visibility and support across Australia, and para ice hockey is becoming part of that movement.
Australia’s women’s para ice hockey team is preparing for its second World Championships, with the green and gold set to welcome the world to Newcastle.
From November 24–29, Hunter Ice Skating Stadium (HISS) will host the 2026 Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Championships, bringing international para ice hockey to Newcastle.
Australia’s first appearance at these World Championships was in 2025, a tournament held in Slovakia.
“I think they are really excited, especially in Newcastle,” Head of Para Ice Hockey Lynda Holt told 6ixdubhockey.com
“We have got so much support up in Newcastle and around Australia we are getting that as well.
“Particularly in Newcastle where I go to, they are so supportive like ‘What can we do? How can we help?’
“Even the rink, the Warners Bay rink [HISS], they support us so much. We did a nine-hour marathon, and they gave us the time to do that.
“Everyone is so great up here [Newcastle].”
Australia’s Para Ice Hockey Journey Continues
In Slovakia, Australia finished last in the group. While it wasn’t the result they had hoped for, it provided a valuable learning experience.
Erika Gosney took home the Best Goaltender and Fairplay Awards at the tournament for Australia.
Learning from their experience in Slovakia, Australia now returns to the World Championships with more time together and more preparation behind them.
“We were a very new team, like we didn’t even know each other,” said Holt.
“We only had a few weeks to get to know each other and even play together.
“Going into Slovakia was a very rough team, we did really well, gelled really well and the girls put everything into it, it was so good.
“This year coming forward, more training has happened, because some of them hadn’t even been on the ice. Some of them had only joined hockey a couple of months before, they were very raw.
“But everyone has been training hard, we have all bought new sleds a lot of us, we are really trying to improve.
“I think the team will gel a lot better, even though it was great before, I think the team this time around will gel even better.
“We have got a few newbies coming along as well, I’m not sure how we will place in the world standards yet, as we are still growing.
“But we are certainly going to be a lot more competitive I think than we were in Slovakia, simply because we have had time to learn and grow together.”
Para Ice Hockey Growing Across Australia
As women’s ice hockey continues to grow in Australia, the exposure from this tournament could have a significant flow-on effect for years to come.
For people who may never have considered ice hockey, greater visibility can provide an opportunity to discover para ice hockey and find a competitive sporting outlet.
Sometimes, a simple post about the World Championships can create the visibility the sport desperately needs.
“It’s growing enormously,” continued Holt.
“Even just from one post we got five people in one state just going ‘I want to be involved; how do I get involved’ and that’s quite regular now.
“Even in the time I have been doing it, which is only three years, it’s grown quite a lot.
“I have brought in my friends from the Paralympics; I have dragged a few of those in and they are dragging more people in. I think we have two new people coming up this weekend alone to try it out.
“It is growing, it’s slow, but it is growing.”
Building a Stronger Women’s Hockey Community
When we talk about the growth of women’s ice hockey in Australia, it needs to be viewed as a broader, more holistic picture.
Across all programs, there are opportunities to cross-promote, collaborate and help every part of the women’s game grow.
That creates an opportunity for the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) and para ice hockey to come together, strengthening connections across women’s hockey in Australia.
For Holt, that could mean cross-promotion, demonstrations and simply giving the para team greater visibility at AWIHL games.
“I have actually spoken to Amelia [Matheson] before, she is the same in wanting to support us as well and we want to support her,” said Holt.
“And obviously with Dawn [Watt] as well, whatever Dawn needs I will help her with.
“Absolutely, I hope there will be cross promotions.
“Even maybe some demo games or something, in between some of the games [AWIHL].”
That could be as simple as acknowledging the para team at AWIHL games, something Holt has experienced herself in the past.
“I did one with Nathan Walker [Australia’s only NHL player] about two years ago I think, that was pretty exciting, I handed out some trophies with him.”
A Home Crowd Can Make a Difference
As the World Championships get closer, the excitement of representing Australia on home ice will begin to build.
Training camps will be complete, game plans laid out and the stage set for a major international showcase.
It will be a chance for the Australian public to get behind their para ice hockey stars, pack the rink and show their support for a growing sport.
The tournament will bring some of the world’s best players Down Under for five days of high-level para ice hockey.
“We would just love their support, we would love them to come down and cheer us on,” continued Holt.
“Because, it always better when there is a crowd roaring behind you. I know they will [get behind us], and we appreciate that.
“Even if they want to come and get involved, we can have able-bodied people train with us and if I get a local competition happening, they can be involved in that as well.
“Absolutely, come down and play, come down and support, sponsor us, there are multiple ways you can support us.
“Even just being there to just cheer us on is enough, that would be amazing, I know the girls would appreciate to have that experience.”
