SLEDGE HOCKEY

About Sledge Hockey:

To allow the players with physical disability to play ice hockey, the concept of Sledge Hockey was originated. Ice Sledge Hockey was discovered in the early years of the 1960s in Sweden, Stockholm. It is called sled hockey in the United States of America. It was invented at a rehabilitation centre in Sweden. Among the Paralympic games, sledge hockey is one of the highly popular sports. The sled used in ice sledge hockey was designed by two men from Sweden, in the early 1960s. They did this for the intention of playing the ice hockey game, in spite of their disability. The design was made up of two skate blades that were placed on a frame made of metal. This allowed the passing of the puck from underneath it. The ensemble was completed by using two round poles that had bike handles for the hockey sticks. There are many restrictions on the weight and measurements of the sledges that are used in the games for the Paralympics.

Expansion of Sledge Hockey:

There was an initial decline in the interest of the game of sledge hockey, after its invention. In spite of this, the competitions of sledge hockey began in the year 1969. It had five teams participating against each other from Europe. Great Britain formed its team in the year 1981, followed by the Canadian team in the year 1982. The United States of America got its first sledge hockey team, in the year 1990. Japan and Estonia followed in the year 1993.