Raphaelle Tousignant dreams of being a Paralympic hockey player.

But as a woman, that means making a menB次元官网网址檚 team because there isnB次元官网网址檛 a womenB次元官网网址檚 Paralympic hockey team to play on.

That hasnB次元官网网址檛 stopped Tousignant from chasing her goal of taking the ice for Canada on the sportB次元官网网址檚 biggest stage.

B次元官网网址淲hen I learned that the womanB次元官网网址檚 side of the game wasnB次元官网网址檛 at the Paralympic Games, I changed my dream and said, B次元官网网址業 want to be part of the menB次元官网网址檚 team,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she told The Canadian Press. B次元官网网址淧eople were looking at me like I was crazy, like B次元官网网址榦h, youB次元官网网址檙e 14 years old, you donB次元官网网址檛 know B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檙e too little, youB次元官网网址檙e just being naive and youB次元官网网址檙e not going to be able to make it, itB次元官网网址檚 so unrealistic.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Tousignant took a significant step toward proving her doubters wrong on Monday night, becoming the first North American woman to play in a major international para hockey competition in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 15-1 win against South Korea at the world championships in Moose Jaw, Sask.

Not only did she make history, she also scored a goal.

The 20-year-old forward from Terrebonne, Que. recognizes how big of an impact she can have.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a big step forward for the womenB次元官网网址檚 side of the game,B次元官网网址� said Tousignant, who first made the national development team in 2019. B次元官网网址淗opefully some other countries are going to see me being part of Team Canada and theyB次元官网网址檙e gonna say B次元官网网址榟ey, I want to get back home, I want to build my own womenB次元官网网址檚 team.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big achievement for me, but itB次元官网网址檚 also a big step for womenB次元官网网址檚 para hockey.B次元官网网址�

Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 team head coach Tara Chisholm, whoB次元官网网址檚 coached Tousignant since she made the womenB次元官网网址檚 team at 14 years old, says thereB次元官网网址檚 a long way to go before the womenB次元官网网址檚 game is in a good place, but sheB次元官网网址檚 excited about the exposure Tousignant is bringing.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 going to have eyes on her, which is awesome for the womenB次元官网网址檚 side of the game to let other countries know that women can play this sport and that they deserve to be able to play,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 really exciting to have her there, being able to show people that women are hockey players, also disabled women are hockey players.B次元官网网址�

Para hockey at the Paralympics is technically mixed gender, but only three women (two for Norway, one for China) have played in the Games despite teams being allowed to increase their rosters from 17 to 18 players to add a woman.

World Para Ice Hockey is aiming to have a womenB次元官网网址檚 world championships in place by 2025, says Chisholm, which could be a precursor to the Paralympics finally having a womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey tournament at the 2030 Games B次元官网网址� something that would go a long way in helping increase the percentage of female athletes at the Winter Games. Women made up just 24 per cent of the international athletes at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Players can compete at the Para Ice Hockey WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Challenge, an international competition taking place for a second year this fall. But without a world championship or Paralympic competition, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 team hasnB次元官网网址檛 been able to get funding from Sport Canada or Own The Podium B次元官网网址� meaning players have to pay any costs not covered by sponsors.

Chisholm says that can range from $5,000 to $15,000 a year, depending on where you live.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 extremely proud of Raph and all that sheB次元官网网址檚 done to get to where she is and be able to have the same opportunity that the men have right now because no woman has had that,B次元官网网址� said Chisholm. B次元官网网址淭his is the first time ever that a woman didnB次元官网网址檛 have to pay to be able to put on the Hockey Canada jersey.

B次元官网网址淭hat in itself is I guess a bit of a milestone.B次元官网网址�

Tousignant says she hopes women can have worlds and Paralympic competitions one day, but on a personal level, she appreciates the challenge of making the menB次元官网网址檚 team.

B次元官网网址淚 achieved the top womenB次元官网网址檚 player in the world pretty quickly,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o for me, I donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 a bad thing that I had to go through the menB次元官网网址檚 team B次元官网网址� I actually enjoy it because itB次元官网网址檚 made me push my limits even more, and I donB次元官网网址檛 think I would be the player that I am today if I didnB次元官网网址檛 have to do that.B次元官网网址�

Despite being determined to make the menB次元官网网址檚 team, Tousignant says the reality of the situation did allow some doubt to creep in.

B次元官网网址淚 asked myself, B次元官网网址榮hould I change sports?B次元官网网址� Because at the end of the day, my goal is to be a Paralympian,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址�(But) I couldnB次元官网网址檛 go to another sport and just like, forget about para hockey, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 do it.B次元官网网址�

Now one step closer to achieving her dream, Tousignant says getting used to the menB次元官网网址檚 teamB次元官网网址檚 system and figuring out her role are two of the biggest adjustments B次元官网网址� along with adapting to the size of her new opponents.

But what Tousignant lacks in size at five-foot, 106 pounds, she makes up for with her fortitude, says Chisholm.

B次元官网网址淓ver since IB次元官网网址檝e met her, ever since she was young, sheB次元官网网址檚 always been kind of fearless.B次元官网网址�

Canada and the United States, para hockeyB次元官网网址檚 powerhouses, face off in the world championships on Wednesday night. For the first time, a woman could take the ice.

Chisholm says it canB次元官网网址檛 stop there.

B次元官网网址淚 definitely feel like we canB次元官网网址檛 just rest here and be happy with one woman making a national team,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭here are lots of little girls with disabilities across the country that want to play this sport, just the way that the boys on their team play this sport, too.B次元官网网址�

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

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