Peggy Assinck

Peggy Assinck (born May 8, 1983) is a Canadian ice sledge hockey athlete and neuroscientist. She competed in the inaugural IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in 2014.

Early life and education Assinck was born with spina bifida and became paralyzed at the age of 11, following a non-traumatic spinal injury. Prior to this, she was involved in various sports.

Her passion for this area of research stemmed from her time spent in the hospital during her first diagnosis.

Assinck joined the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team in 2007, and has been an advocate for this sport ever since. She competed at the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup from November 7–9, 2014 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, Assinck was part of the Canadian squad that earned a silver medal.

Assinik travelled to Sochi Russia to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympic games. During this time, she accompanied a team of researchers from ICORD to the games to research autonomic functions in Paralympic athletes who have spinal cord injuries.

Assinck's role as Learn: Play Coordinator for sledge hockey at SportAbility combines her passion for the sport with her research in spinal cord injury rehabilitation to help youth get involved in accessible sport. Her work aims to encourage individuals both with and without disability to play sledge hockey to increase the reach of adaptable sports.

Within this position, Assinck has been involved in the development of sledge hockey programs around Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions 2016 Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Top Graduating Doctoral Student Award

2016 City of Vancouver Accessible City Award, individual category

2014 Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award: On Sunday, September 14, 2014, Sophie, Countess of Wessex visited the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre. During the visit, Assinck was among two recipients of the Difference Maker awards, presented by Rick Hansen.

Selected publications