I’m Sledge Hockey’s Newest Fan

BC Maria_Wang from Surrey , March 14, 2010

Until Vancouver was nominated as host of the 2010 Winter Games, I had never heard of Ice Sledge Hockey. I walked into Thunderbird Arena not knowing what to expect. As I was swept up in the excitement of the game, my notebook filled with comments; the numbers of my favourite players, game highlights and other things of interest, such as, “this is so aggressive, this is so cool!”

Sledge Hockey in two words? Powerful and captivating.

Sledge hockey originated in Sweden. In the late 1960’s, two men designed a sledge to help fulfill their desire to continue playing despite their physical disability. The same basic design is used today and enforced with rules on the weight and dimensions of the competing sledges. The sledge consists of two skate blades connected to a frame which allows the puck to pass underneath. Two short hockey sticks with ice picks attached to one end propel the athletes in a similar fashion to a skier using his or her poles. This allows for the same mesmerizing flow of play as in any elite level ice hockey game. As is the case with most world-class sports, sledge hockey looks easier than it actually is. Players require years of experience and training to look so confident and skilled.

In 1994 at the first Paralympic Games in Lillehammer, Sweden took the Gold over Norway. Today, I was privileged to witness an epic rematch. As a neutral observer, I cheered for whoever was on the offensive, but was glad that this time Norway slid away victorious after a tense 3-2 shootout.

Hockey fans new to this version of our game will find that the players and the puck move faster than anyone would expect. Yet it is the athlete’s determined aggression that makes every second of this sport so electrifying. At the end of the match, it was great to see the camaraderie between players as they shook hands. Team Sweden was gracious in defeat.

When rated by public opinion, Ice Sledge Hockey is the Paralympic favourite. When rated by me, it is a sport of which I am now a huge fan!!!