A three‑day hockey clinic in Kingston, Jamaica, turned a modest community centre into a bustling hub of stick‑handling drills and shooting practice, drawing roughly 150 local children eager to try a sport that had long been out of reach.
The event was organized by the Women of Colour Hockey Collective, a group that rebranded last year from the Black Girl Hockey Club Canada to broaden its mission of making hockey accessible to women and girls of colour across the diaspora.
Founder Saroya Tinker described the experience as deeply personal, noting that giving back to her ancestral homeland felt like a full‑circle moment that blended sport with cultural pride.
The clinic was made possible through a partnership with Swift Hockey, a Canadian company that supplied 75 sticks, goalie gear, balls and T‑shirts, ensuring that cost would not be a barrier for the participants.
Sophie Jaques, a Canadian national team defender and PWHL Vancouver player, joined the coaching staff, emphasizing how representation on the ice can inspire the next generation to envision a future in the game.
Zechariah Thomas, founder of Swift Hockey and a former minor‑league player who also represented Jamaica’s national ice‑hockey team, spoke about his own upbringing in Oshawa, Ontario, and the importance of affordable equipment for grassroots growth.
The program also welcomed Katelynn Charlton, a professional player who helped run the sessions, underscoring the collective’s connection to both collegiate and pro‑level talent.
Beyond the Ice: Community and Opportunity
Organizers highlighted that the clinic was not just about teaching basic skills such as stick handling and ball control, but also about fostering a sense of belonging for foster children and other underserved youth.
The initiative’s expansion abroad was sparked by a previous encounter with three Kenyan girls a year earlier, a moment that convinced the collective that hockey’s reach could truly be global.
Backed by the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the WCHC aims to continue bridging gaps in access, proving that with the right support, the sport can thrive in unexpected corners of the world.