Sled Hockey: Thrills, Spills, and Excitement

Authors

  • Peter Rimmer

Abstract

Since its debut at the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Games, the Paralympic version of ice hockey has quickly become one of the favorites for spectators. It is fast-paced, physical, and played by male athletes with a physical disability in the lower part of the body. Sled hockey delivered plenty of thrills, spills, and excitement in Sochi during the Winter Paralympic Games as Team USA successfully defended its Paralympic ice sled hockey title by beating hosts Russia 1-0 in the final. Russia, who was making its debut in the event, showed the rapid progress it has made in a very short space of time by beating defending champions USA 2-1 in their pool game. The sides met again in the gold medal final in front of a packed crowd at the Shayba Arena. Co-captain Josh Sweeney of the U.S. team was the match winner in the final with the only goal of the game in the second period of a tense encounter. With the victory, Team USA became the first team to win back-to-back sled hockey gold medals in Paralympic history, and take its third gold medal since 2002. 

Issue

Section

Feature Articles