AHA is a Program of African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO)
African Hockey Association is a Program of African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO)
Why We Exist
For too many young people in Ottawa, hockey feels out of reach. Ice time, equipment, and coaching add up fast—putting the game beyond families’ budgets.
Our Origin Story
The African Hockey Association was built by community generosity—both dollars and countless volunteer hours. A special thank-you to Steve Leon, District Business Manager at Merck, who approached ACAO with the idea, then secured ice time and free equipment to get us on the ice. That’s the power of true allyship. You can’t tell AHA’s story without Steve—he helped start it all.
Our Commitment
As we grow, AHA is committed to making hockey more inclusive and accessible, with a focused effort to create pathways for Black youth and other visible minorities to play, belong, and thrive in the sport.
“…the next day, I got a call from Leon asking me to volunteer with the new program”
I was beyond excited to be involved in such an amazing program.
The goal of ACAO’s new program was to help break down barriers faced by many children and families in sports such as racial discrimination and socio-economic challenges.
It goes without saying that hockey is one of the most expensive sports to participate in, and most children that play are predominantly white.
The Only Barriers Should Be Glass
Even though ice hockey is recognized as Canada’s national winter sport, many marginalized youths still face challenges when it comes to participating. Financial barriers and racial discrimination are a few reasons preventing some of our youth from playing the sport. That’s why the African Hockey Association is dedicated to providing a safe environment for kids in the Ottawa area to learn and participate in Canada’s national winter sport without fear of discrimination
Have Your Kids Enroll Today!