For Christina Picton, para hockey isn’t just a sport—it’s a 20-year journey of grit, growth, and gear. Since joining the Women's National Program in 2010, Picton has carved out a name for herself across all levels of the game. From local clubs to provincial teams and finally to representing Canada on the international stage, her path is a testament to dedication—and to the often-overlooked impact of equipment in para sport.
“I’ve been playing para ice hockey for 20 years now,” Picton says, almost surprised at the milestone herself. “Kind of at a bunch of different levels… then the Women’s National Team and some experience with the Hockey Canada men’s and their development program. So kind of put my toes in everything a little bit.”
What makes para hockey uniquely challenging, and often exciting, is the variety of needs each athlete brings to the ice. Picton, an above-knee amputee, has seen firsthand how critical it is that equipment meets each individual’s mobility, balance, and comfort requirements.
“Para hockey is such a unique sport and with all the players that are involved with a range of different disabilities and impairments, the equipment becomes really unique to everybody. That's kind of involved in the sport,” she explains. “The equipment can really help or hinder someone’s performance.”
Picton is quick to clarify her perspective: she’s not an engineer or fabricator, but rather a dedicated user who’s seen the sport’s technological growth from the inside out. “I'm speaking from a player and a user perspective… I suggested the equipment angle because it is so unique and integral to the sport.”
Back when she started, her club had a collection of older “IC1” sled models, which provided a starting point but little else in terms of precision.
“As far as getting my hands on equipment to get started, that was incredible,” she says. “But as I got more serious… you recognize that the IC1 was probably like an 80s model.”
That’s when innovation began to seep in. One standout? Ontario-based Unique Inventions. “They started to really push the limit with regards to sled design… lighter frames and, you know, tighter buckets… switching from Velcro to ratchet straps.”
Exposure to international programs, especially during the Paralympic cycle, has also driven innovation. “Every four years, when those Paralympic Games come along, you kind of see what other countries are doing… The American men’s team, I remember when they showed up to a games and they all had custom mold buckets—that was a big deal.”
Another game-changer came from former national player Tanner Fandrey, founder of Grey Space Adaptive. “He's been really pushing the limit on the frame structure and the ability to withstand the impact… It's got to be sturdy but light and perfectly fit.”
Picton, who’s on her fourth sled since starting out, takes her equipment setup seriously. For her, fit and agility are everything.
“I’m a single leg amp above knee so I don’t have a very long amputation stump side… Things that I look for in my bucket design are protection… so that pucks and sticks and all the other things that could possibly find its way in there, don’t.”
Security and agility are key: “A big aspect to my playing style is my agility… If I were to get hit and fall over and shift in my sled, I don’t want to deal with that—I want to be able to just pop back up and go like nothing happened.”
In her current setup—thanks to Grey Space Adaptive—Picton is riding in a lighter, more responsive frame. “For someone who’s about agility and speed, the lighter the frame can be while maintaining its integrity… That’s so exciting.”
Despite the progress, barriers remain—namely cost and access.
“All of this para sport equipment is always custom,” she says. “So the cost and then the access to those individuals that are actually taking the time and doing the research and building it…”
Geography adds another layer of difficulty. “How does an athlete out in BC get in to be measured?”
And rising material costs don’t help. “Tariffs don’t help either… Things that were a little cheaper about a year ago, not anymore.”
For those just stepping into the world of para hockey, Picton offers realistic, encouraging advice.
“It's gonna take time—so make sure you're really patient with that process, and don't let the equipment stop you,” she says. “Some people could get into a sled and on the ice and feel how difficult the sled might feel for them… but not consider that it isn't the right setup.”
Picton ensures to be curious, involved, and most importantly, persistent.
“If something’s not feeling right, it’s up to you to identify and pinpoint the problem… maybe you put foam here, maybe you take it away there. Just play around with it.”
Picton credits Women's Para Hockey of Canada with actively seeking funding and sponsorship to support athletes' gear needs.
“In the last year or so, we’ve had partnerships with Bauer… that was really, really great. Some of us are in old stuff, man,” she laughs. “And Canadian Tire pitched in a couple years ago… they really stepped up.”
That support has meant access to better padding, new sticks—including high-end Bauer carbon fiber one-piece sticks—and a renewed sense of investment in the future.
With the 2026 Paralympics in Italy less than a year away, Picton is energized by what lies ahead—not just for herself, but for the sport as a whole.
“It’s exciting, right? We’ll see what other countries bring to the table… and I’m sure that’ll start to push the conversation and push the development worldwide again.”
As the sport continues to evolve, Christina Picton will be right there—on the ice, in her custom sled, carving a path forward.