1. It's Game Time
Sled hockey, also known as sledge hockey, is a game played on a typical hockey rink. Each game is played by two teams who each send six players to the ice. Additional players can replace teammates who need breaks. Players score by getting the puck into the opposing team's goal. The team with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner. Most players who play sled hockey have a disability that prevents them from playing traditional ice hockey.
2. Sled Hockey Versus Ice Hockey
There are numerous similarities between sled hockey and ice hockey. For instance, players must wear safety gear while they're competing. Six players take the ice for each team: one goalie, three forwards and two defensemen. Both games are played on ice and require a net and puck. The most notable difference between the two sports is the use of sleds instead of skates. Each sled hockey player uses two sticks instead of just one, and the sticks have a metal pick on the end. Participants use the pick to dig into the ice and propel forward or stop. Players on the bench don't necessarily sit during matches. Because disabled athletes often can't access the bench and the penalty box, they sit in front of the ice.
3. Sled Hockey Equipment
The basic equipment you need to play sled hockey includes a helmet, elbow pads, shoulder pads, pants and a chest protector. Instead of skates, players sit on sleds, which must meet certain height requirements so that the puck can travel underneath it. Straps secure a player's knees, hips, ankles and feet to the sled. Backrests on sleds are optional, and they must meet specifications.
4. Disability Not Required
You don't have to be disabled to play sled hockey in some leagues. Many organizations feature mixed teams. For example, the New England Bruins don't discriminate against anyone who wants to play sled hockey. They invite the disabled and the able-bodied to try out for their roster.
5. They Didn't Want to Quit
Physical impairment didn't stop a group of Swedes from playing ice hockey. Instead, they invented their own version, known today as sled (sledge) hockey. They modified the game to fit their disabilities and began to play recreationally. Sled hockey first appeared as an exhibition at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sweden in 1976. It became an official event during the 1994 Paralympic Winter Games in Lillehammer. Now, teams in Norway, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Japan, Estonia, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Russia, the Czech Republic and the United States compete in this Paralympic event.
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