As thousands of athletes compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games that open August 29, there has never been a better time for para-sports in Canada and especially in Powell River. In addition to Powell River Ravens wheelchair basketball team, there will be a second para-sport option this winter—sledge hockey.
Powell River Disability Sport Club, a local non-profit organization established after Powell River hosted the BC Disability Games in 2007, promotes local para-sports. It has formed a partnership with City of Powell River parks, recreation and culture department and secured a para-sports equipment grant from Ottawa this June. With the money, 12 sledge hockey sleds were purchased. Now the disability sports club is working to get equipment set up, players interested and recruit a coach or two.
“We are trying to recruit not only people with physical disabilities, but also people who just can’t play stand-up hockey anymore,” said Lindsay Peake, program manager for the club, adding that, “hockey can be pretty hard on the knees.”
With two defencemen, three forwards and a goalkeeper, sledge hockey follows roughly the same rules and has the same positions as stand-up hockey on the ice. The only differences are that sledge hockey players sit on sleds which have skating blades attached to the bottom and players propel themselves across the ice with the help of hockey sticks. The sticks have metal spikes attached at one end and a hockey stick blade for handling the puck at the other.
Peake, who is also a coach for the Ravens, hopes to involve Powell River in sledge hockey by having residents help put the sledge kits together on Saturday, October 6. All 12 sleds are currently in boxes and need to be assembled.
“To help players get comfortable with being on the ice,” explained Peake, “we are planning a six-week training camp with the ultimate goal of building a team that could play other sledge hockey teams around the province.”
She added that she will arrange to have the team play at a Powell River Kings’ game at the end of the season.
The sledge hockey team faces some challenges to become established. With ice time at a premium at Hap Parker Arena it may be difficult to arrange times for practices.
Readers interested in finding out more about sledge hockey can visit the club online.
