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What is Sled Hockey
Sledge hockey is a sport that was designed to allow participants who have a
physical disability to play the game of ice hockey. Ice sledge hockey (also known
as sled hockey in the United States) was invented in the early 1960s in Stockholm,
Sweden at a rehabilitation center. It is currently one of the most popular sports in
the Paralympic Games.
Two men from Sweden designed the sled for ice sledge hockey in the 1960s
because they wanted to continue to play hockey despite their physical disability.
Their design included two skate blades on a metal frame that allowed the puck to
pass underneath. They completed the ensemble by including 2 round poles with
bike handles for sticks. Although there are many restrictions to the measurements
and weight of the sledges used in the Paralympic Games, not a whole lot has
changed from the original design to the ones that exist today.
Despite the initial decline of interest after the invention of sledge hockey,
competition between sledge hockey teams started up in 1969 that included five
teams out of Europe. In 1981, Great Britain established their first sledge hockey
team, and that was shortly followed by Canada in 1982. It was not until 1990 that
the United States developed their first ice sledge hockey team and sledge hockey
continued to expand when Estonia and Japan developed their teams in 1993.
International ice sledge hockey became an official event in 1994 for the beginning
of the Paralympic Games in Lillehammer, with Sweden claiming the first gold
medal for ice sledge hockey competition. In 1998 the following Paralympic Games
in Nagano, Japan, Norway won the gold medal as Canada and Sweden took the
silver and bronze respectively. For the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City,
Utah, the gold medal belonged to the United States with Norway and Sweden
finishing second and third. The 2006 Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy saw the
gold medal go to Canada, silver to Norway and bronze to the United States.
For more information, visit the United States Sled Hockey Association website.
physical disability to play the game of ice hockey. Ice sledge hockey (also known
as sled hockey in the United States) was invented in the early 1960s in Stockholm,
Sweden at a rehabilitation center. It is currently one of the most popular sports in
the Paralympic Games.
Two men from Sweden designed the sled for ice sledge hockey in the 1960s
because they wanted to continue to play hockey despite their physical disability.
Their design included two skate blades on a metal frame that allowed the puck to
pass underneath. They completed the ensemble by including 2 round poles with
bike handles for sticks. Although there are many restrictions to the measurements
and weight of the sledges used in the Paralympic Games, not a whole lot has
changed from the original design to the ones that exist today.
Despite the initial decline of interest after the invention of sledge hockey,
competition between sledge hockey teams started up in 1969 that included five
teams out of Europe. In 1981, Great Britain established their first sledge hockey
team, and that was shortly followed by Canada in 1982. It was not until 1990 that
the United States developed their first ice sledge hockey team and sledge hockey
continued to expand when Estonia and Japan developed their teams in 1993.
International ice sledge hockey became an official event in 1994 for the beginning
of the Paralympic Games in Lillehammer, with Sweden claiming the first gold
medal for ice sledge hockey competition. In 1998 the following Paralympic Games
in Nagano, Japan, Norway won the gold medal as Canada and Sweden took the
silver and bronze respectively. For the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City,
Utah, the gold medal belonged to the United States with Norway and Sweden
finishing second and third. The 2006 Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy saw the
gold medal go to Canada, silver to Norway and bronze to the United States.
For more information, visit the United States Sled Hockey Association website.
Someone should tell Coach Randy how to stay off his
back. We haven't seen too many goals scored from there.
back. We haven't seen too many goals scored from there.