BC Hockey, in partnership with the Soldier On Program, held a Sledge Try It event on Jan. 28 at CFB Comox. The participants took part in various on-ice sledge drills and were joined by six players from the Comox Valley Glacier Kings Junior B hockey team and BC Hockey representatives.
The Soldier On Program provides resources and opportunities for serving and retired Canadian Forces personnel with a permanent or chronic illness or injury to actively participate in physical, recreational or sporting activities.
The first international sledge hockey game took place in the 1960s between one of the club teams in Stockholm and a club team from Oslo. There are now over 15 countries regularly playing sledge hockey across the globe.
Sledge hockey made its Paralympic Winter Games debut in 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway. Team Canada won their first gold medal in the 2006 Games in Torino, Italy and followed that victory up with one at the 2008 World Championship.
Sledge hockey has become one of the biggest spectator attractions at the Paralympics as it is a fast-paced, highly physical game which often features intense action.
For more information about sledge hockey, visit the Hockey Canada website.
– BC Hockey