On Ice!

By Barbara King

It’s another practice night at the Twin Arena in Hamilton,Ontario, and the kids are anxious to get out and play hockey.

Chaz Fisher, 9, of Hamilton is putting on his equipment with help from his mom, Nada. The other players are milling around,excitedly discussing the new sticks they’ll be using for the practice. Finally, everybody is ready, as the Sledgehammers of the Hamilton Sledge Hockey Association prepare to take the ice.

The rules are the same as in the big leagues, but with slightly different equipment. The sport has been modified somewhat to suit the players’ needs. This is a sport which anyone can play,regardless of ability. The kids on the Sledgehammer team have varying degrees of disability, but when they get out and play,the differences disappear.The players use sledges, a type of sled with back rests and blades on the bottom. They propel themselves across the ice using two shortened hockey sticks with picks on one end for gripping the ice and a modified hockey blade on the other end.

Sledge hockey was originally developed in Norway in 1971 and was introduced to Canada to meet recreational, emotional and physical needs of children and adults with disabilities.

Chaz’s mom gave it a try one night and found out firsthand how tough a sledge is to handle. She came off the ice with arms black and blue from trying to make simple turns and stops.

Players wear regulation helmets and hockey pads, but some of the younger players may need more specialized equipment. The sledge backs can be built up for more support.

A sledge can cost up to $1,300, and the modified hockey sticks are $30 per pair.

The rules state that there can be up to three able bodied players on each team. This is a very positive aspect of sledge hockey. It means the special needs are secondary and the sport itself is emphasized. The sport provides kids with the opportunity to prove their endurance, coordination, strength, social skills and leisure attitudes. It also helps to increase attention span and improve decision making skills.

Most importantly, sledge hockey is fun and can involve the whole family. The Dowling family travels from Brantford, Ontario, to Hamilton once a week to play on the Sledgehammers team. "Sledge hockey is a very big motivator for my son, Steven," explains Jenny Dowling. "He loves hockey and now he can participate like everyone else. His friends at school are amazed at what he can do."

The Hamilton team are looking forward to hosting their second annual sledge hockey tournament, and are anticipating up to 800 participants. Some of the visiting teams will travel from Chicago, Long Island and New England for the weekend of February 9, 10 and 11. Players from the Ontario cities of Kitchener,Mississauga and St. Catharines will also be out on the ice.

The league has established a unique "link" with the Prosthetics/Orthotics department of Hamilton’s Chedoke McMaster Hospital. Many of the players are clients of the hospital, which has offered its services prior to the tournament for minor repairs and adjustments to equipment of visiting teams.

As the puck flies up the ice, so do the sledges, as families cheer themselves hoarse! After the practice, the red faces and sweaty brows are proof positive that the players really had a workout.

Joel Dembe, a rookie player for the Sledgehammers, can’t wait to play in the tournament: "Our team is ready to kick some butt!"

(Barbara King is a freelance writer living in Burlington, Ontario.)