Sledge hockey facts for kids
A player handling the puck
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| Highest governing body |
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|---|---|
| Nicknames | Para ice hockey, sled hockey |
| First played | |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Contact sport |
| Team members |
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| Type | Parasport, winter team sport |
| Equipment |
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| Venue | Ice hockey rink |
| Presence | |
| Paralympic | Men's/Mixed only |
| World Games | No |
Sledge hockey, also called Sled hockey in America, is a cool way to play ice hockey for athletes with physical disabilities. It's also known as Para ice hockey in big international games. This exciting sport was created in the early 1960s in Stockholm, Sweden.
Players sit on special sleds and use two short hockey sticks. These sticks have metal "teeth" on the ends to help them move around the ice. The game follows many of the same rules as regular ice hockey. Sledge hockey is played on a normal ice hockey rink.
Sledge hockey has been a popular event at the Winter Paralympics since 1994. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) helps organize and promote the sport worldwide. Since 2016, the IPC has called it "Para ice hockey" to make the name clearer for everyone.
Contents
How Sledge Hockey Started
Two friends in Sweden invented sledge hockey in the 1960s. They loved hockey but had physical disabilities. So, they designed a special sled that let them play on the ice. Their first design had two skate blades on a metal frame. This frame allowed the puck to slide underneath.
They also used two round poles with bike handles as sticks. Modern sleds used in the Paralympic Games have strict rules for size and weight. However, their basic design is still very similar to those first simple sleds.
At first, not many people knew about sledge hockey. But by 1971, five teams in Europe were playing against each other. Great Britain started its first team in 1981, and Canada followed in 1982. The United States got its first team in 1990.
The sport kept growing, with Estonia and Japan forming teams in 1993. Sledge hockey became part of the Winter Paralympic Games in 1994. Sweden won the first gold medal that year. Since 2010, sledge hockey has been a mixed-gender event at the Paralympics. It has become one of the most exciting events to watch.
In 2016, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) changed the sport's name to "Para ice hockey." They did this because the word "sledge" means different things in different languages. The group that organizes the sport is now called World Para Ice Hockey.
Gear for Players
Sledge hockey sticks are special. One end has a curved blade, just like a regular hockey stick. The other end has six to eight metal "teeth." Players use these teeth to grip the ice and push themselves forward. The teeth cannot be too sharp or stick out more than 1 centimeter. This rule keeps the ice safe and prevents injuries.
Players wear a helmet with a facemask to protect their face. They also wear shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, and hockey gloves. Players can choose pants and footwear that are comfortable for them.
Goalies wear a standard mask, chest and arm protector, and special gloves. They can also wear leg pads if they want. Goalie sticks have teeth on both the paddle and the knob. Goalies can change their equipment to fit their needs. For example, some goalies add plastic parts from running shoes to their gloves. This helps them move sideways more easily.
Rules of the Game
Most of the rules in sledge hockey are the same as regular ice hockey. The main differences are because of the sleds and the players. The first international rules for sledge hockey were made in 1990. They were based on Canadian rules.
There is one penalty unique to sledge hockey called "Teeing." This happens when a player charges an opponent using the front of their sled. Players who have limited arm movement can have a helper. These helpers must wear a team jersey and safety gear. They cannot go faster than the players. They also cannot enter the "house" area near the goal when their team is defending.
Games are divided into three periods, each lasting 15 minutes. If the score is tied at the end of the game, they play an overtime period. If it's still tied after overtime, they have a shootout to decide the winner.
Women in Sledge Hockey
There are women's sledge hockey teams in different countries. The United States women's national ice sledge hockey team is part of USA Hockey. The Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team is run independently. These groups work to help women's sledge hockey grow around the world.
Para ice hockey at the Paralympics has been a mixed-gender event since 2010. However, only a few female players have competed in the Paralympic tournament. These include Britt Mjaasund Oyen from Norway (1994), Lena Schroeder from Norway (2018), and Yu Jing from China (2022).
Teams made up only of male players can have 17 players. But if a team includes a woman, they can have 18 players. While having women on mixed teams is a good step, some people think more needs to be done to help women's sledge hockey grow.
The first big international tournament for women's sledge hockey was held in 2014. It was called the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup. In 2022, this event was replaced by the Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge.
See also
- Para ice hockey at the Winter Paralympics
- World Para Ice Hockey Championships
- World Sledge Hockey Challenge
- IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships
- British Sledge Hockey Association, the main group for the sport in the U.K.
- USA Warriors, a Para ice hockey team of U.S. soldiers who were injured in combat.
- Power hockey, a type of hockey played in electric wheelchairs.
- Ice sledge racing, a sport that uses similar sleds and sticks for racing.
