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Sledge hockey is a sport that was designed to allow participants who have a locomotive 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 .


HISTORY


Two men from Sweden designed the sled for ice sledge hockey in the 1960’s 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.


RULES


Essentially all of the regular Ice Hockey Rules that have been implemented and enforced in regular ice hockey leagues apply to many ice sledge hockey leagues around the world. The differences that have been created into the game of ice sledge hockey are modified for the Athlete and their sledges. The first set of international rules was created in 1990 and was drafted from Canadian rules.

  • The entranceways to the players’ benches and penalty benches from the ice are designed evenly with the ice so the players can access them without the help of a coach or able-bodied person. Additionally, the surface area inside the players’ benches and penalty benches are made of smooth plastic or ice, which is to avoid any damage to the players’ sledges.


All players are required to have their ice sledge hockey equipment follow the standard that has been set by the IHEC (Ice Hockey Executive Committee), including their sledges, Sticks , Helmet , Skates (if applicable), and other protective gear. The sticks for ice sledge hockey players have a curvy blade (similar to regular ice hockey) at one end, and a pick at the opposite end of the blade for maneuvering. The metal pick cannot be pointy and protrude farther than 1cm beyond the stick so it cannot damage the ice or other players.


RELATED SPORTS


Many other sports have been created with the same idea as ice sledge hockey so it can allow persons with disabilities to participate in sport. Wheelchair Basketball is one of the most developed sports for people with physical disabilities and many organizations around the globe exist to promote the game of wheelchair basketball. Wheelchair basketball has existed since the 1960’s at Paralympic competition in Rome. Organizations such as International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) promote the Paralympics, World Championships and Junior World Championships.
International competition in Paralympic sports is continuing to expand and develop in similar ways that ice sledge hockey is. Wheelchair Rugby , Volleyball and Wheelchair Tennis are also among the most recent additions of Paralympic sports. International competition will become increasingly better if sports such as these become more accessible to communities like wheelchair basketball and ice sledge hockey.


REFERENCES


  • Canadian National Men’s Sledge Hockey Team. (2004). Canadian success in sledge

  • hockey. Retrieved January 27, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • Canadian Paralympic Committee. (2006). Torino 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • Hockey Alberta. (2004). Sledge hockey tournaments. Retrieved January 16, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • International Paralympic Committee. (2006). Ice sledge hockey. Retrieved January 16, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • International Paralympic Ice Hockey Rulebook. (2005). International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved January 17, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. (2003). Promoting excellence and developing opportunities. Retrieved January 16, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • It’s The Real Deal. (2005). Paralympic schools program. Retrieved January, 16, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • Paralympic Sports Association. (2004). Sledge hockey. Retrieved January, 17, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • Salt Lake 2002 Paralympics. (2002). Historical records. Retrieved January, 16, 2006, from {Link without Title}

  • Spokes n’ Motion (2006). Retrieved January 16, 2006, from {Link without Title}



EXTERNAL LINKS






United States teams




Annual North American sledge hockey tournaments