|
Sled Hockey
|
| Photo by Adam Pretty (Getty Images) |
Sledge hockey has become a fan favorite ever since it was introduced as a medal sport in the 1994 Lillehammer Games. More commonly known as sled hockey in the United States, the sport has been played in this country since the late 1980s. Team USA won its first Paralympic medal in the sport – the gold medal – at the Salt Lake Games in 2002.
Just as in ice hockey, sled hockey is played with six players (including a goalie) at a time. Players propel themselves on their sledge by use of spikes on the ends of two three-foot-long sticks, enabling a player to push himself as well as shoot and pass ambidextrously. Rinks and goals are regulation Olympic-size, and games consist of three 15-minute stop-time periods. Paralympic sled hockey competition is open to male athletes in the categories for amputees, spinal cord injured/wheelchair and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke. For additional information on eligibility, click on the Classification link on the left side of this page.
For more information on sled hockey, visit:
USA Hockey's sled hockey page - click here
The United States Sled Hockey Association page - http://www.usahockey.com/ussha/
Sled Hockey America's page - click here
http://www.sledhockey.net/
|
