“"It's a sport that honestly, I never actually pictured myself doing in my life because I was always so scared and I just thought, you know, might as well try it," said Bahja Jama.

Fellow student Rouba El Khatib, who applied what she learned roller skating in Lebanon, said she realizes the benefits of playing ice hockey.

"I really forget anything I'm annoyed about outside of the rink and I just play with spirit and have a lot of fun, score some goals," said El Khatib.

"It always feels different and [it's] so fun being on the ice and playing whenever I'm on the ice."

[Read ‘Newcomers hit the ice thanks to group making hockey more accessible’ via CBC News]