(Image Credit: Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation)

By Jesse Gill

Adaptive Sports

Medicine Hat Sledge hockey teams wrapping up season at a tournament in Calgary this weekend

Apr 3, 2026 | 7:07 AM

The sledge hockey season is coming to a close for teams with Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation.

There are five teams competing at the Western Canadian Sledge Hockey Tournament at Winsport in Calgary this weekend.

Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation program coordinator Tara Chisholm says this includes three in the adult division and two in the youth division.

“It’s the tournament for us to aim for every season. I think this year actually the tournament itself has 29 teams, which is pretty big,” Chisholm said.

“It is one of the biggest in North America for sledge hockey.”

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: April 2-5

Apr 02, 2026

What's On

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in April

Apr 01, 2026

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: March 27-29

Mar 27, 2026

Chisholm and her husband Derek Whitson also coach the Canadian women’s sledge hockey team.

Several players from this team are also expected to be competing at the tournament.

Whitson is a former member of the national men’s team.

There also might be some current members of the Canadian men’s sledge hockey team that competed at the Paralympic at the tournament.

“The men’s Team Canada players, a couple plays for Calgary and Edmonton. So we might even be able to see some of them play this weekend,” Chisholm said.

“Eight or nine women’s national team players will be playing this weekend in the top division.”

The Medicine Hat adult teams will play in the division down from these top national players.

“Derek and I will be playing on a team together this weekend. Derek’s in goal, which is a bit different for him than what he played in the Paralympic games,” Chisholm said.

“We’ve got a good cohort going. I think we are a club that’s sending the most team out of all of the clubs that are attending,” she added.

“People are always very surprised when we tell them how many people we have playing. That’s a good feeling and good that people in the Hat here, enjoy the sport and continue to recruit people to come join.”

The tournament is underway Friday morning and will wrap up by Sunday afternoon.

_

(Image Credit: Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation)

“Every one of our teams. We’ve guaranteed three games. Most of them will probably play four,” Chisholm said.

“It should be a very busy, but very fun weekend for the Medicine Hat crew.”

Following the tournament next up for Chisholm and Whitson will be a trip to Ottawa to coach the women’s national team in a series against the Americans.