Hockey is a sport that unites, a passion the Victoria Royals are committed to making inclusive for all.
Believing hockey should be a space where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and belong, the Royals are actively working alongside community groups to transform the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre into an environment where diversity and inclusion are celebrated.
Through partnerships with the Victoria Pride Society, Canucks Autism Network, Moose Hide Campaign, and OneAbility, the Royals say they are dedicated to creating opportunities that resonate across all ages and abilities.
Royals players regularly engage with Indigenous youth hockey, sledge hockey practices, and youth programs facilitated by the Canucks Autism Network, fostering a deep-rooted connection with underrepresented communities.
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This Friday, November 1st, the Royals will host the “Hockey for All” game against the Moose Jaw Warriors, celebrating diversity and inclusion in Victoria’s hockey community and highlighting their belief that hockey is for everyone.
Together, they’re creating a powerful evening dedicated to unity and belonging in hockey—an event not to be missed.
The Victoria Royals management penned an open letter to the community:
At the heart of GSL and the Victoria Royals is the deep commitment to our community and a dedication to uniting people through sporting and events. We prioritize the connections we foster and are driven by a shared passion for making every experience at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre enjoyable, safe, and memorable for all. The fundamental purpose of these entities is to bring these values to life.
With that understanding, we would like to address our upcoming weekend of home games as no better opportunity to showcase what our community means to this team and what this team represents within our community.
On Friday, November 1st, we are proudly hosting our annual Hockey for All game – a night that means so much more than just hockey as we celebrate the diversity and strength of Victoria, recognizing that the sport of hockey and Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena is truly for everyone. This event is dedicated to honoring the LGBTQ+ community, underprivileged families, para-athletes, our proud Indigenous community members, and all those who make our game and city more inclusive and welcoming for all.
Hockey for All is more than a game; it’s a commitment to create a safe, inclusive space in hockey for every individual, regardless of background, ability, or identity. We believe hockey should be a place where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and belong—a vision that we know is shared by our community.
As an organization, we are working with community groups to make the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre and Victoria Royals games an inclusive atmosphere. In partnership with the Victoria Pride Society, Canucks Autism Network, Moose Hide Campaign and OneAbility, Royals players have attended Indigenous youth hockey practices, sledge hockey practices and visited youth programs through the Canucks Autism Network. The Royals school visit program is in partnership with the Moose Hide Campaign, on every school visit Royals players make, they educate the students about the program and the importance of inclusivity. We continue to learn and grow, in partnership with these groups, as we work toward deepening our understanding of issues of accessibility and inclusivity, and work to promote a safe sport environment.
To celebrate and make our games more available to our community this season, the Victoria Royals Foundation will be donating 1 ticket for each Club ticket sold to the November 1st game to a family or organization that does not have the means to attend a game. We have already committed to donating over 500 tickets or $16,000 to those that have already purchased these tickets in advance of this release. We invite all of you to not only attend this game but to join our Hockey for All campaign and sharing a short video of yourself letting the world know why Hockey is for All, by tagging @VictoriaRoyals on socials and using #HockeyForAll.
Joey Poljanowski – Vice President of Hockey Operations, Alternate Governor
Jake Heisinger – General Manager
James Patrick – Head Coach
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Make sure to grab your tickets and be a part of something special this coming Friday, November 1st. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
