When the Canadian Olympic men’s hockey team beat the Americans in the finals, netting Canada’s second hockey gold of the Games, CTV commentator Chris Cuthbert issued a challenge to Hockey Canada.
“Jean Labonte, get your team together. Sledge hockey athletes, it’s your turn now,” said Cuthbert.
Labonte is the captain of the Canadian sledge hockey team and flag bearer at the Vancouver Paralympics. The team failed in their hunt for a third consecutive gold medal at the Paralympics, finishing fourth.
But do Canadians care or even know anything about sledge hockey?
Hockey is the undisputed king in Canada and there is no doubt it has a favoured spot in the hearts and minds of Canadians and national pride swelled when the men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold medals in Vancouver, but now most of the nation’s attention is elsewhere. Sledge hockey, one of the headline sports of the Paralympics, is forgotten. But it shouldn’t be and just like hockey, sledge hockey deserves to be recognized.
The biggest difference between the two ice sports is instead of two skates, players are seated and strapped to a sledge. For movement, players are given two miniature hockey sticks with a blade for shooting on one end and spikes, used to propel players with a rowing motion, on the other. Goalies are given only one stick but their catching glove has spikes. Sledge skating may look easy but it takes incredible strength and balance.
The rules are also almost identical to the hockey most Canadians are familiar with.
Games are five-on-five with three periods of 15 minutes each. There are penalties, offside, no-touch icing and games can go into overtime or a shootout. The floor of the team benches and penalty box is covered with ice to allow players to slide along. The boards are made from transparent plexiglass to allow the players, who are low to the ice, to see.
Players wear a full face shield – and they need it because sledge hockey is physical. While watching a game, the term “bumper car hockey” immediately comes to mind. Players are not afraid to hit each other, usually leading to spectacular crashes and collisions, especially in front of the net. Alexander Ovechkin may hit hard, but sledge hockey players can dish it out too.
Most players have scars on their legs from being stabbed by opponents with the spikes on their sticks when the referee is not looking. Although the Paralympics has harsh penalties for fighting, there are sledge hockey fights, most notably a line brawl last year between Canada and the U.S. Scrums after the play are also common.
People expecting to see less skill on display in sledge hockey are wrong; these guys can play hockey with the best of them. It’s impressive to see a seated person rip a wrist shot top corner and it’s even more impressive when the goalie makes a glove save, leaping up to snag the puck out of the air before it crosses the line.
One-timers and tipped shots are incredible displays of skill, especially when they are performed by players on a sledge.
One of the best ways to see these feats of athleticism is to watch Greg Westlake, alternate captain for Team Canada. He is sledge hockey’s Jonathan Toews, the best offensive player in the tournament and is the leader of Canada’s potent attack. He has a great shot and a willingness to go to the net and score some dirty goals.
But despite its many merits, many hockey fans have never seen a sledge hockey game in their life. The sad thing is, unless the word gets out, they’ll be missing out on a sport that has just as much flash as hockey and is just as entertaining. The rules are a little different, but the game is still the same and just as entertaining. Sledge hockey is long overdue for its time in the national spotlight.