First all-girls hockey rink in Atlantic Canada opens in Cape Breton

The new Kehoe Forum at Cape Breton University is believed to be the first rink in Canada dedicated entirely to women’s and girl’s hockey.

“It’s really special to have something of our own and this nice,” said Kate Ford, a member of the Cape Breton Under-15 AAA Blizzard.

“It’s really special because normally we get a shortage of ice time and normally get kicked to the later ice times, so it’s really nice to be able to have our own ice and be able to come here whenever,” added teammate Kate Finney.

The new arena dropped the puck on its first season over the weekend with an Under-15 AAA showcase tournament that brought in teams from across Nova Scotia.

“It’s finally here. Games are on, the season has started,” said Christina Lamey, president of the Cape Breton Blizzard.

A portion of funds for the arena came from the Blizzard’s 2022 Kraft Hockeyville win, which came with $250,000 toward arena upgrades.

Now that they have a rink of their own, it means they no longer having to compete with the boys for ice time and access to top-end amenities.

“This is the first year we have ever had a normal schedule,” Lamey said. ”This is the first year that we have ever had every team having two practices a week if they want to have that. We have the space and the ability to do all of it.”

It’s just nice to be able to call this place ‘the home of girls’ hockey’," Finney said

“This new building, it’s like a new arena in an old shell,” added Steve Horne, development manager for recreation and sport at Cape Breton University.

The four-year, $40 million renovation to the old 1987 Canada Games Complex also makes this the first arena on Cape Breton and fourth in the province that is fully accessible for sledge hockey.

“We have raised the ice surface, actually, so there is no step down to step on the ice,” Horne said. ”So, para-athletes, para hockey players, can glide right onto the ice from the dressing rooms.”

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