Raphaelle Tousignant, the first woman to play for Canada's national para hockey team, in action against South Korea at the world championships in Moose Jaw, Sask., Monday, May 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Hockey Canada Images - Erica Perreaux (Mandatory Credit)
Para hockey player Rapha毛lle Tousignant, who became the first woman to play for Canada in a major international competition, says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
鈥淚 never thought I would say those words again 鈥 not now, not anytime soon. But life has its own plans,鈥 she wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday. 鈥淎bout a week ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
鈥淚鈥檝e been here before. I鈥檝e faced challenges on and off the ice that have shaped me into the person I am today. I鈥檝e learned how to fall and stand back up. I鈥檝e learned how to breathe through pain and hold on to hope. And this fight won鈥檛 be any different.鈥
When she was 10 years old, Tousignant鈥檚 leg was amputated due to bone cancer.
The forward from Terrebonne, Que., made the 好色tv women鈥檚 para hockey team at 14, quickly becoming one of the program鈥檚 top players, and in 2023 was the first woman named to Canada鈥檚 national team for a world championship.
Now 23, Tousignant was aiming to become the first female para hockey player to compete for Canada in the Paralympics at the 2026 Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, in March.聽
Para hockey at the Paralympics is technically mixed gender, but only three women (two for Norway, one for China) have played in the Games despite teams being allowed to increase their rosters from 17 to 18 players to add a woman.
Despite her diagnosis, Tousignant says it鈥檚 a dream she鈥檒l still chase.
鈥淭hese next months were supposed to be the final push toward the Games 鈥 a chance to earn my spot. And I鈥檓 not going to let this stop me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 realistic or even possible anymore. And honestly, I don鈥檛 want to know right now. What I do know is that every workout and every ice time has a new meaning. They鈥檙e my fuel. My focus. My 'why.'
鈥淲ho knows how it will all unfold, but I will know that I tried until the very last second to make my dream reality,鈥澛
Tousignant also helped Canada win silver at the inaugural world women鈥檚 para hockey championships in Doln媒 Kub铆n, Slovakia, in August.
鈥淭his is another chapter in my story 鈥 not the whole story, not the end of it,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 taking this one day at a time, surrounded by love, strength, and a fire that hasn鈥檛 gone out.鈥
This report by 好色tvwas first published Nov. 5, 2025.
The 好色tv Press. All rights reserved.
It鈥檚 a little-known fact that Canada鈥檚 credit unions are among the country鈥檚 stron…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
