WickFest kicked off with a celebration party Thursday night that included a special guest. The girls hockey tournament, founded by four-time Olympic gold medalist and Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser, features 86 teams from across North America and more than 1,500 girls who will be competing, but Thursday, the Tumbler Ridge U15 team got a big boost. The girls were joined onstage by 13-year-old WickFest alumna -- and Tumbler Ridge shooting survivor -- Maya Gebala, who just spent 262 days in hospital. Gebala was released from B.C. Children’s Hospital last week, and shocked her teammates, who have been cheering her on in her recovery journey, onstage. “Maya, you are an absolute superstar,” Wickenheiser wrote on her social media page. “Your courage, strength and spirit are an inspiration to everyone around you. We are so proud to call you part of the WickFest family, and it was an honour to have you with us tonight. “To Maya’s family, teammates and everyone who has surrounded her with love and support, thank you for reminding us what being part of a team truly means. “Once a WickFest girl, always a WickFest girl.” The tournament, which is hosted in partnership with Girls Hockey Calgary, is hosting games Friday through Sunday at a trio of venues: WinSport, Seven Chiefs Sportplex and the Great Plains Recreation Facility. Thursday night’s celebrations also included a special welcome for Team Mexico, the first time a Mexican squad has ever participated in WickFest. A GameChanger Award was presented to Judy Colpitts in recognition of more than 30 years advocating for women’s and girls hockey in Alberta. The final special moment of the event was for Wickenheiser herself, who was presented with the Order of Canada by representatives of Hockey Canada. “Hosting Canadian Tire WickFest in Calgary is always special for us, and the support we receive from the community has helped grow the festival from 10 teams to the 86 we have this year,” said Wickenheiser, in a media release. “There were so many great moments at the opening party,” she added, “but to have Maya and her family in the room with us was incredibly special. She has defied so many odds and we know her Tumbler Ridge teammates will look to make her proud this weekend.” To view the 2026 WickFest schedule, go here.
