Moose Jaw, Sask., becomes first Canadian city to host World Para Ice Hockey Championships

Moose Jaw is making history in the world of Para ice hockey.

The southern Saskatchewan city is the first Canadian host of the World Para Ice Hockey Championships since the event's inception in 1996. The top eight international Para hockey teams have been competing at the Moose Jaw Events Centre since May 28.

Team Canada is now heading into the playoff round after a commanding win over South Korea, a victory against Czechia and a loss to the United States.

Russ Herrington, team Canada's head coach, said playing on home soil is a treat. 

"It's a great opportunity for us to showcase where the sport is now," Herrington said.

"It's really accelerated in the past four or five years."

Moose Jaw becoming the first Canadian host isn't the only milestone at the tournament.

Raphaëlle Tousignant became the first woman to don the maple leaf in an international Para ice hockey game in Canada's opening game against South Korea.

The 20-year-old from Terrebonne, Que., said she was determined to play for the national team.

"People thought I was crazy or naive, because I was young and a woman and they're men and bigger, [but] at the end of the day I never stopped believing in myself that I could achieve that," Tousignant said.

"If you truly believe in yourself and you work hard, you're just going to do it. There's no dream that is too crazy to be achieved and nothing is impossible."

Francois Tousignant, Raphaëlle's father, said he isn't surprised that his daughter is playing at the highest level in the sport.

"The first time she tried playing Para hockey she told me, 'in a couple of years I will be at the Olympics,'" Francois said on Monday.

To fulfil her Paralympic dream, Tousignant will need to continue playing with the men. There is no