Queen's Women's Hockey will host a Women of Colour Hockey Collective game this Friday when the Gaels welcome the Waterloo Warriors to Kingston.

Gaels forward Sienna Bullen, who is part of the Women of Colour Hockey Collective, said she has been looking forward to this moment for a long time.

"I'm super excited, and I know [my teammates] are super excited too," Bullen said. "Obviously, the game is important, we're playing a tough team, but also, it's not just about the game. It's about representation and visibility; showing our fans we think this is important to showcase among the Queen's Gaels, the OUA, and Kingston."

Bullen, who is in her third season with the Gaels, said it was important to her to help make the game happen this year.

"I was very intentional with the way that I approached this, that Black History Month game has to happen."

"I'm part of this team, and there are young women and girls watching who are watching who may be looking to see if this might be a place for them. This game is really important because it highlights and celebrates women and girls of colour within the OUA specifically."

Bullen has been part of the Women of Colour Hockey Collective since it operated as Black Girl Hockey Club. She said she is proud of how the collective has grown and the impact it continues to have.

The Canadian-based non-profit works to address barriers to access and retention in hockey through mentorship programs, financial aid, community-building events and camps. The collective connects young players with mentors competing in U SPORTS, NCAA Division I and the PWHL, while also partnering with organizations to help offset the cost of equipment and travel.

"When I joined that group, it was the first time I was able to meet people that looked like me and understood my experience, without even having to explain it. I felt seen and supported and valued within a space where I felt safe to share my stories about what I was going through."

One early experience with the collective left a lasting mark on Bullen..

"When I was younger, I was like the only Black girl on my hockey team. I had no one to come to, emailing coaches and not getting responses, sometimes feeling isolated in moments where you should feel a part of a team. Now, [I have been] able to create long-lasting friendships with girls that I'm best friends with today and who play in the OUA like me.

"I know that my journey is not just mine anymore. I want to create a pathway so it's very accessible to these young girls, because I know that my pathway wasn't as easy. I want to try and make them as easy as possible."

Bullen's own hockey journey began at age three in Georgetown, Ont. Although she laughs now about crying on the ice and wanting to be a dancer, she stuck with the sport in part because of her older sister, Sydnee Bullen, who played before injuries forced her to stop. With the support of mentors through the collective, including guidance on how to contact coaches and navigate recruitment, Bullen eventually connected with Queen's and earned her opportunity with the Gaels.

Friday's game will shine a spotlight on that journey and the broader community behind it.

The pre-game puck drop will feature Bullen alongside two Waterloo players – Andrea Murray and Teagan Gray – who are also members of the Women of Colour Hockey Collective. They will be joined by a special guest for a moment Bullen says she'll never forget.

"My sister, Sahara Bullen, is going to be dropping the puck. She's a part of the Women of Colour Hockey Collective. She's a mentee. She's 13, so she's going to be dropping the puck for us."

The evening will also include a raffle with prizes including Toronto Sceptres tickets, a television, a hockey stick and Women of Colour Hockey Collective apparel, along with a puck toss to engage fans in attendance.

Bullen said it has meant a great deal to see her teammates embrace the significance of the game.

"Those are all my best friends on that team and to know that they're supporting me through this game means a lot to me. I carry a role of representation on our team, for them to have my back and build me up to get excited for this game, just like really means a lot to me."

For Bullen, the bigger picture extends beyond a single night.

"When I was younger, I didn't have anyone to really look up to that look like me.

"I want people coming out of the game, to understand how important inclusion is and how important representation and access, that type of stuff is within the sport."

As for the future, Bullen hopes to continue contributing in meaningful ways.

"Eventually I want to create my own mentorship program. Or I just want to play a bigger role within the Women of Hockey Collective."

Puck drop between the Gaels and Warriors is set for Friday at 7:30 PM at Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ont. Fans can purchase tickets for the game on the Queen's Gaels Tickets website.