Ice Sledge Hockey Tara Gleason & Joe Galarza

What is Ice Sledge Hockey? Paralympics version of able bodied Ice Hockey It is designed to allow participants who have a physical disability to play the game of ice hockey Participants who play this sport, generally have locomotor disabilities in the lower part of the body.

History Invented at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960’s by a group of Swedes, who despite their physical disability wanted to continue playing hockey. By 1969, Stockholm had a five- team league that included players with a physical disability and able-bodied players. In 1976, two Swedish National teams played an exhibition match at the Paralympic Winter Games. In 1994, became an official event at the Lillehammer Winter Paralympic Games.

Amputation through the ankle Paresis: loss of 10 muscle points in both legs Joint mobility: fusion of ankle joint and/or extension defect of at least 30 degrees or fusion of knee joint Cerebral palsy: spasticity/dyscoordination Leg shortening at least 7 cm Minimum Disability

Classifications » Group 1: athletes with no sitting balance or with major impairment in both upper and lower limbs » Group 2: athletes with some sitting balance and moderate impairment in their extremities » Group 3: athletes have good balance and mild impairment in their upper and lower limbs Athletes are classified into 3 groups*: *There is no classification point system dictating who can be involved in play within sledge hockey. There is simply an eligibility classification for Paralympic events. Unlike other team sports such as wheelchair basketball, rugby, and sitting volleyball. This makes sledge hockey the only full inclusive sport.

Rules and Regulations Three 15 minute stop time periods -Time stops for penalties A maximum of 15 players, including 2 goaltenders, is allowed per team. Only 12 players may dress for each game. No more than 6 players are permitted on the ice at any time. Other than being permitted to use two sticks and the use of an ice hockey sledge, ice sledge hockey is exactly the same as able-bodied ice hockey.

Common Penalties These include, but are not limited to: -High sticking: when a player raises his stick above his shoulders -Cross-checking: when a player thrusts his stick, holding it with both hands across an opponent’s face or body -Holding another player: Players may not use their sticks or hands to trip, hook or hold another player When a player is in the penalty box, his team must play one man short. After a penalty, the game restarts with a face-off.

Equipment Sledge – Made of steel or aluminum and are.6m-1.2m in length – Two blades on the bottom allow for mobility – Straps on the sledge secure players feet, ankles, knees and hips – May be equipped with a backrest, but it must not protrude laterally beyond the armpits when the player is properly seated

Sticks – Maximum length 1meter and made if wood plastic or aluminum/titanium – Blade has max length of 25cm, except for the goaltenders blade (max length of 35cm) – There is an ice pick on each end of each stick that is used to propel the athletes Pick must have at least 6 teeth No part may come to a sharp point Pick must not extend more than 1cm anywhere beyond the stick *goaltender may have an additional pick at the base end of his stick Equipment

Rink Standards: NHL Rink 200ft long 85ft wide with goal lines 11ft from end boards Dress a max of 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders for a game Difference between able-bodied NHL/Olympic Hockey and Paralympic Hockey *only 12 players may dress for each game in Paralympic Event Paralympic Hockey International Rink 210ft long 98ft wide with goal lines 13ft from end boards Max of 20 skaters and 2 goaltenders on each team

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