The power of a puck
One of the toughest parts about suffering a spinal cord injury (SCI) is adjusting to life after the injury. How do you fill the voids? For an athlete, like a football or rugby player, this means finding a replacement outlet for the aggression and intensity that used to be release by the sport. Often times this replacement can come in the form of a different sport. Sled hockey and power hockey are both aggressive, intense sports and many athletes living with spinal cord injury (SCI) have found this to be a fulfilling outlet.
The game is played on your standard ice rink using much of the same equipment you would use to play ice hockey, such as protective pads and the puck. However, rather than using ice hockey skates you play on a sled which has blades attached at the bottom. To maneuver up and down the ice rink or hit the puck you use two shortened hockey sticks. Besides equipment, the only other major difference between sled hockey and ice hockey is sled hockey has slightly shorter periods.
Interestingly, sled hockey has become the fastest growing sport for the disabled population, according to the Northeast Sled Hockey League. There are currently about 50 junior and adult sled hockey teams in the United States.
Nicholas Jenkins, a 10 year-old boy from San Bernardino, California, who was born with spina bifida, meaning he was essentially born with a broken back, finds excitement and thrill through sled hockey. With a positive attitude, passion and the help of his dedicated parents, Nicholas has started a team in Southern California.
Nicholas’ friends and family rallied together to apply for the Pepsi Refresh Grant in January 2011, which would have awarded them $25,000 to buy the equipment necessary to start a sled hockey team and cover rink fees as well as the fees associated with becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization had they won.
Still, his mother Christine feels compelled to help her disabled son start and continue a team in their area because she sees the support and inspiration that comes along with it, “they get out there on the ice and put their all into it and really love the sport.”
Become a part of Nicholas’ SoCal Sled Hockey Team.
Read the team’s blog at http://www.socalsledhockey.blogspot.com/
COMMENT: Does Nicholas’ story inspire you to get active? What do you think is one of the most exciting sports to play with a disability?
By: Tanza Loudenback
Experea Healthcare Blog Editor
