Sledge Hockey

ice hockey · adaptive sports · paralympics · amazing athletes

Sleds, not skates. Players sit on small sleds instead of standing on skates. These sleds let athletes with physical disabilities zoom across the ice just as fast as traditional hockey players.

Special double-ended sticks. The hockey sticks have metal teeth on the handle tips that dig into the ice. This lets players push themselves forward and steer while holding the stick in both hands.

Born in Sweden. Sledge hockey was invented in the early 1960s at a rehabilitation center in Stockholm, Sweden, as a fun way to help people recover and stay active.

Same rink, same rules. The game plays on a regular ice hockey rink with almost identical rules to standard ice hockey, so it's just as exciting and competitive.

International competition. Now called Para ice hockey in international events, the sport is played around the world and is a thrilling part of the Paralympic Games.