Breaking Down Barriers and Growing the Game: Meet Amira Paul and Jeneva Marshall

Over the last number of years, women’s hockey has been on the rise. As it continues to grow, so does CBU’s commitment to championing it, with the fully renovated Canada Games Complex soon reopening, set to become the Home of Women’s Hockey. Among the excited community members awaiting the rink’s opening are Amira Paul and Jeneva Marshall of Eskasoni, two CAPERS women’s hockey players who are breaking down barriers and helping grow the game.

Amira, a first-year Bachelor of Science, Nursing student, started playing hockey when she was around four years old and says her passion and love for the game is still going strong today. “I joined the team because I wanted to stay close to home for school, but also hoped to continue playing hockey after graduating from high school,” Amira says. “Another reason I joined this team was the opportunity to play with a lot of girls who I played with or against growing up.”

Jeneva, a first year Bachelor of Arts student, started her hockey career when she was five years old, playing alongside Amira on the Cape Breton Lynx U18 AAA team before joining the CAPERS. Just like Amira, Jeneva hoped to stay close to home for university, but also sought out ways to continue playing hockey, so CBU provided the perfect opportunity to have the best of both worlds. 

With the newly renovated Canada Games Complex set to open mid-2025, both women are incredibly excited to get their skates on the ice of the Home of Women’s Hockey. “Having this dedicated space for us to play is well deserved and needed. I’m so glad and very thankful that we are getting such recognition,” says Jeneva. “I am really looking forward to the Canada Games Complex reopening. I grew up playing there and getting to play there again next season will bring back a lot of memories and nostalgia.”

This year, CBU is proud to host the Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Championship at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre from March 7-9. The tournament sees the CAPERS face off against Acadia University and Holland College in an exciting weekend-long competition.

“I can’t wait for the ACHA Championship tournament, I think there will be some really good, strong competition between the teams,” says Amira. Jeneva adds that the CAPERS have a great team this year and she looks forward to leaving it all on the ice this weekend. 

For those looking to attend the tournament, tickets can be purchased at the door and are $10 for a weekend pass or $5 per game, with free admission for children under 12. Cape Breton University encourages the community to come out in full force to support these athletes and celebrate the future of women’s hockey.

The ACHA Championship is made possible with the support of sponsors including Cape Breton Hyundai, Protocase, Cape Breton Credit Unions, Subway, and Cape Breton Beverages.

For more information on the tournament schedule, visit cbu.ca/capershockey