In Central Park

I have been dreaming of playing ice hockey for a long time. In the last two weeks, I have had the amazing opportunity to try out Disabled Ice Hockey – or ‘Sled Hockey’ as it is more commonly called. (Also sometimes called “Sledge Hockey.”

I was invited to join disabled hockey team sponsored by the New York Rangers professional team. To be honest, I’ve always been a New Jersey Devils fan. But I gotta say – I love the Rangers for this incredible chance to get myself out on the ice!

And I’m excited to find that I enjoy hockey even more than wheelchair basketball. It’s great exercise, very challenging and super rewarding. It’s much more physical, and that is great for feeling the intensity of being alive. Slamming into the other players is great for letting out aggression and even transforming mental pain. I really love playing this hockey game as much as I dreamed I would!

Great to be on Ice

How can a guy without legs play hockey? Instead of standing up on skates, I strap into a small sled, basically just like sitting on skates. Instead of holding a long hockey stick, I hold two  shorter sticks, one in each hand. Each stick is about the length of a yardstick, or half the length of a regular hockey stick, and has 3 or 4 spikes on one end which I use to dig in and propel myself across the ice — at some pretty decent speed.

Just like in regular hockey, one end of the stick is used to shoot/slap the puck. Here’s a photo. You can see the metal attachments at the bottom, for jabbing the ice and getting traction to push forward.

Very unlike the Basketball team I was on in California, this hockey team is very organized. Twice a month we get to practice at the Rangers’ practice facility. The other weeks we meet on Thursday or Friday to practice whenever there is open ice – anywhere in New Jersey, New York or Connecticut. Tournaments are once a month.

Last weekend I got to participate in a hockey showcase in New York City! Wollman Skating Rink is right in Central Park, an open-air ice rink that was truly beautiful. It was a really great time. We got to skate around and give a demonstration of what sled hockey is. We got our pictures taken with some retired professional Rangers, too.

Involvement is expensive. To be on the team requires quite a bit of driving every week to places as far away as Boston. The equipment is also very pricey because most of it has to be custom-fit to the body for safety. When you have a life that depends on using your hands and shoulders to move around, you have to protect them. When the ends of your legs are delicate, you have to protect them from assault. And when your face is down low close to the ice where the puck is flying, you better protect that too!

Ice Action

I’m borrowing what I can because I’m so passionate about getting out there. But soon I’ve got to put together my own gear: shoulder pads, a jersey, a solid helmet with clear plastic face guard and mouth piece, elbow pads, padding to protect the ends of my legs, gloves, sticks that match my arm size, and of course, a sled.

It could be really great to be involved in something like this because I will also have the opportunity to meet people and do things that I would not get a chance to otherwise.

Although my daily life is already demanding and full of struggles, I really want to dedicate time and resources to hockey. It’s going to require my full commitment to participate on the level expected by my team and my self. So, even with all the driving, expense and commitment I have to say hockey is the most fun I’ve had since my accident took place and I hope it will continue.

I hope you enjoy the photos of sled hockey in Central Park. A huge thanks to Dana Jensen for cheering me on and taking the pics…!

I gotta play!

Take care everyone -

Gabe