Learn about the programs supported by the Hockey Canada Foundation

Every season, the Hockey Canada Foundation reaches thousand of young Canadians through a variety of programs designed to get more people playing Canada's game.

Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund

The Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund works daily to make hockey more by enabling Canadian youth to experience the power of play through Canada’s game. The Assist Fund provides up to $500 per player in registration fee subsidies to approved applicants registered with a sanctioned Hockey Canada association. Canadians can also make a donation to the fund to support their community. One hundred percent of all donations will go to supporting access for youth to hockey.

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Dreams Come True

Dreams Come True is a financial assistance program that brings hockey into the lives of children who might otherwise never get the opportunity to play. The program subsidizes registration fees and provides head-to-toe equipment in various communities across the country, and has introduced hockey to 1,745 kids since 2006 through 51 events.

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NHL/NHLPA First Shift

A six-week program that introduces hockey to children ages 6-10 who might otherwise never experience the sport. The program provides fully fitted sets of head-to-toe equipment, 6 on-ice training sessions, and a safe environment where beginners can develop an appreciation for the game.

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Esso Fun Days

Esso Fun Days are an all ages introduction to female hockey that are free for all participants. The program removes financial barriers to the game and provides a fun and inclusive environment where girls and women can make connections with each other, learn the basics of hockey, and build self-confidence.

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World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend

The IIHF World Girl’s Ice Hockey Weekend is an international celebration of the women & girls game. Throughout the last decade, Hockey Canada has proven to be a leader by reaching hundreds of thousands of young Canadian girls through this event.

In 2021, more than 8,500 girls benefited from the WGIHW with the delivery of more than 100 events across the country.

The WGIHW creates a national sense of community; anyone in Canada can register to host their own event that works to recruit engage Canadians in the sport of hockey.

The 2023 event hosted over 60 WGIHW Events in each Member with an emphasis on Try Hockey for people new to the sport. With over 250 partipants in each event, Hockey Canada, with funding from the Hockey Canada Foundation, was able to cover the expenses associated with hosting an event (ie. ice rental, guest appearances, gifting, other items to amplify event). Therefore investing $100,000 directly into grassroots girls hockey!

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Girls Global Game

The IIHF Global Girls Game is an event that takes place in every Federation on the same day where two teams play a game that forms a cumulative score Internationally. In Canada, this event celebrates, inspires, promotes camaraderie, participation, and respect for girls in hockey. Through various special events, and local engagement, this event helps create tomorrow's female leaders with recreational U15 aged female players from across Canada. This event has taken various formats in the past - in 2023, 12 games were recognized and hosted in each Member, including the National Women’s Team (NWT) Rivalry Series game. Over 440 girls across the country participated.

The 2024 event will adopt the same format as 2023, which will include amplified awareness, celebration, more participating, more financial support for Association hosts, and a tie in with Canada’s National Women’s Team.

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