2 replies to this topic

[KayDub]

Thanks to the urging of and information from our lovely fellow member gsp23 I am starting sledge hockey at 8 am on Saturday 10 September when the league in my area's team starts their main season. I get to go out during the first hour when usually the younger kids play, so I can start learning to use the sled. They have sleds to use, which is a pretty cool opportunity. I have to bring my own ice hockey gear and I have that. Apparently you take the blades off a pair of skates and cut up your breezers (or pants/shorts) to fit in the sled. I might get new second hand pairs to do that to, my breezers were always too big for me before (my mum thought as a girl playing guys hockey as a teenager I would get killed by body checks so the last pair I got were massive I hated them) and my skates are my babies, they stopped making ones like them years ago so I don't want to take them apart. Maybe someday, just not yet! Anyway I'm pretty thrilled and had to share. Thanks gsp23! Any other hockey players? Any tips?

[KayDub]

Just a bit of an update... I finally started it and I absolutely love it! In our area the team is for all of Colorado really, but mostly just Denver area people show up. I started the first hour with the kids, most of who have some sort of disability other than an SCI. Two boys have amputations, but most of the other kids have things like CP and developmental disabilities. Doesn't matter though because they're all awesome! The cutest little 4 year old with CP has a guy out there pushing him but him and I "worked" on our pushing (going forward yourself with the sticks) together. Some of the older kids are just solid players.

After that I was able to practice with the adults. The coaches were really impressed with how quickly I caught on to some of the basics. I can stick handle pretty well and have a good sense of balance and movement on the ice. I worked a lot of turning and definitely have a lot to get better at there, along with carrying the puck while moving ahead and of course speed. Some of the guys are really good. One of the guys had shown up one practice longer than me, I went to introduce myself but he recognised me. We'd met at the pool, he's a friend of a quad from the army who's wife I know from the gym. I ended up telling him about sled hockey starting up and he showed up. It's nice to start meeting other chair users out and about in the real world.

So I'm pumped to wake up before it gets light every Saturday for practice now. I keep talking to all these amazing people who are on the national teams and that would be a great goal. Who knows if I can but I'm definitely going to work my *** off and try! I'd absolutely 100% recommend it for another paras/chair users/etc. If you can, give it a go!!

[RZ94]

I'D LOVE TO GET INTO HOCKEY, MY NEPHEWS BOTH PLAY IN WYOMING.

JUST AIN'T NUFFIN 'ROUND HERE IN UTAH WHERE A GUY CAN GIVE IT A GO.

I NEED TO MOVE OR SUMTHIN' THIS PLACE BLOWS FER PARASPORTS.