What Is Sledge Hockey?

History 

Para hockey, a groundbreaking team sport that follows the same rules and structure as stand-up hockey, was created in 1961 by three Swedish wheelchair athletes on a frozen lake in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 1979, Dick Loiselle, a former director of the 1976 Toronto Olympiad, received a sled from Europe, gifted to him by Rolf Johansson, a Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair track and field and one of para hockey's inventors.

The sled was given to Loiselle with the expectation that the Paraplegic Association of Canada (PAC) would start a para hockey program. However, PAC declined the proposal, and the opportunity was passed to Jerry Johnston, executive director of the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS).

When CADS also declined, the sled was sent to Jean Lane, Johnston's sister-in-law. Lane presented the idea to the City of Medicine Hat, Alberta, which had allocated $42,000 for sports programs for people with disabilities but had no existing programs to use the funds.

With Lane's program meeting all the necessary criteria, para hockey was officially introduced in Canada.

As the sport rapidly grew, Sledge Hockey of Canada (SHOC) was formed in 1993 and recognized as the national sport federation by the Government of Canada to oversee the development and promotion of para hockey in the country.

In 1994, para hockey was featured as a demonstration sport at the Paralympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, and has since become a full medal event.

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How Is It played?

Sled hockey (also known as para ice hockey) is a form of ice hockey designed for individuals with physical disabilities, allowing them to participate in the sport despite not being able to skate. The key adaptation is the use of a specially designed sled that allows players to sit on the ice and propel themselves using two sticks. These sticks have blades on both ends: one for pushing against the ice and the other for handling the puck.

Here are the key features of sled hockey:

1. The Sled

  • The sled is a small, lightweight seat mounted on two metal blades (similar to skates).
  • Players sit in the sled, using their arms to help propel themselves across the ice.

2. The Sticks

  • Players use two sticks, each with a blade on one end for handling the puck and the other end to push against the ice for movement.
  • The dual-bladed sticks allow players to both maneuver and shoot, without the need for conventional skating.

3. The Game

  • The basic rules of sled hockey are similar to those of traditional ice hockey, including the use of a puck, scoring goals, and penalties.
  • Lines typically consist of six players: one goaltender and five skaters on the ice at one time.
  • The game is played on a standard ice rink, and the puck is identical to the one used in traditional ice hockey.

4. Players

  • Sled hockey is open to athletes with various disabilities, such as amputations, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and other mobility and cognitive impairments.