Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Sabrina Byrnes
The Sudbury Northern Sliders Sledge Hockey team, now entering
its 10th season, showcases a friendly, family-oriented
atmosphere, where disabilities don't stand in the way of the
love of the game.
Sledge hockey is an adaptive form of ice hockey, which was
invented in a rehabilitation centre in Sweden in the early
1960's by men who wanted to continue playing hockey, despite
their physical disabilities. Participants are seated on an
aluminum frame with two blades underneath, and use two sticks
with a pick on one end for propelling forward, and a blade for
shooting on the other end. The puck is able to pass back and
forth underneath the sledge.
"Pass, shoot, score. All the rules are the same. Nothing
changes," said Northern Sliders coach Jack Raymond.
Raymond has been coaching the team since its inception 10 years
ago.  "My oldest boy, he's 15, he has spina bifida.
My wife was looking for physical activities to get him involved
in when he was just a young guy. She did some research on the
Internet and she came up with sledge hockey."
The Northern Sliders' sledge boards were purchased through
fundraising, and Raymond said he just fell into the coaching
side of things.
"It's been fun ever since," he said.
While some may have misconceptions, Raymond pointed out that
sledge hockey, like traditional ice hockey, is still a
full-contact sport.
"The kids have a great time out here. When you first think of a
bunch of disabled kids playing hockey, you say 'well, this must
not be very aggressive ... kind of tame.'" he chuckled. "You're
out there playing with these kids, they're banging, crashing,
just like normal kids play hockey."
Raymond's son Brandon said the sport is a great workout and
builds upper-body strength, but it's really about the love of
the game.
"I'm just passionate about the game ... it's the only disabled
sport, like hockey-wise around here ... I love it and wouldn't
do anything else but it," Brandon said.
Currently, the roster ranges in ages from 12-34 and is open to
all skill levels. There are a few able-bodied players on the
team, as well, who are siblings of one of the other players.
"When they're older, they're going to remember playing hockey
with their brother or sister," Raymond said. "It's a real great
family atmosphere around the team and everybody pushes each
other, so it's been lots of fun."
Jenna Whitcher, who is also going on 10 years playing with the
team, originally got involved because of her brother.
"He's disabled and I used to come to every single practice with
him, and eventually the coach asked, 'Well Jenna, would you
like to play as well with your brother?' I thought it was
awesome. I've been doing it ever since," said Whitcher.
"He (her brother) just has a blast. Every time he is out here,
he just laughs the entire time. He loves spending the time with
me and my father, who also coaches the team, so it's a nice
family bonding experience, as well."
She said what she loves most about the sport is seeing the kids
every weekend. "Seeing them smile every time they are out on
that ice is so rewarding."
The season runs from September to April with practices every
Saturday night at the Garson Arena. The team will play a couple
of tournaments outside of Sudbury throughout the season.
Raymond said sometimes they'll get a local able-bodied team on
the sledge boards and play a game against them.
"That's a real good eye-opener for the able-bodied players to
play against a bunch of disabled kids, and they get whooped
pretty good every time so it's fun," said the coach.
The Northern Sliders are gearing up for the London Blizzard
Invitational Tournament taking place Jan. 23-25. The team has
had much success in that tournament in previous years,
including a first-place victory in 2005. The Northern Sliders
have also brought home two first-place titles in the Windsor
Classic Indoor Games, as well as three second-place finishes,
and second-place in the Bell Capital Cup in 2005.
With many accomplishment's under the team's belt, Raymond said
the most important thing is still to have fun.
"This will be the first time playing in this tournament (London
Blizzard Invitational) in the adult division. If we can win a
game, that's a feather in our cap.
"(I) just want the kids to go down, have fun, and not get hurt.
The winning and the losing is really secondary with the team.
We've always had a fairly competitive track record in the past,
but as long as no one gets hurt and we all have fun, that's all
that matters."
The Northern Sliders always welcome new players. Anyone who is
interested, can contact Jack Raymond at 693-4737 or at
[email protected]
