WE NEED YOU to help foster,
grow and promote a
2SLGBTQIA+
focused hockey
community that emphasizes
equality and breaks
down
barriers to sport. Join us in
creating a more inclusive
and
welcoming environment for all.
The Western Cup Hockey Tournament began in 2017 with three teams from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, bringing together 40 players for a weekend focused on inclusion and equality in sport. It was designed to create an environment where having fun and building community are paramount, while advocating for 2SLGBTQIA+ acceptance both in the locker room and on the ice. Today, the tournament has grown to include 128 athletes from eight teams across Canada and part of the United States.
CALGARY INCLUSIVE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
The Calgary Inclusive Hockey Association (CIHA) was founded to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for the 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in hockey. Our first team, the Calgary Pioneers has competed in Winsport’s WHCL recreational hockey league since 2015. We expanded our commitment to inclusivity with the formation of the Villagers I in 2017 and Villagers II in 2023, offering support for all skill levels.
As ‘pioneers’ of 2SLGBTQIA+ hockey awareness in Alberta, our teams participate in year-round league play supported by WHCL and CCSL, with seasonal skill clinics and social ice times. Each spring, we host the annual Western Cup Hockey Tournament - one of the many sporting events that happen during Western Cup. We are organized and funded completely separately from the larger Western Cup event.
WESTERN CUP
As a 2SLGBTQIA+ multi-sport festival - which began in 1984 with a small group of individuals in Calgary, AB - Western Cup set out to form an athletic social group to meet the needs of like-minded people through sports and social activities. Today, the tournament welcomes over 1,300 athletes and attendees from all communities for an electrifying weekend.
