Team Roster

Connecticut Sled Hockey/Wolfpack was formed by Chariots of Hope, Inc. with 2003-2004 being its inaugural season. CT Sled Hockey fields a youth team for those 17 years of age and younger as well as an adult team for players 18 and older. Our players have been able to show dramatic improvement over the first two years thanks to the generosity of Westminster School in Simsbury and Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor that each donate a weekly ice slot on Sundays during the November to March hockey season. Our players have gained valuable experience playing sled hockey games against experienced teams from Maine, New Hampshire, Long Island and Pennsylvania. Players and families have come to enjoy the sport as well as team camaraderie as we traveled to tournaments in Westfield, Massachusetts and Ottawa, Canada. Our fundraising activities allowed our players to demonstrate their skills as they beat former NHL, AHL, NBA players and local media celebrities at the Hartford Civic Center through the donation of time and expertise of the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League. CT Sled Hockey can be reached at: CT Sled Hockey, 45 Barber Pond Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002, phone number (860)242-4673 or visit our website at www.ctsledhockey.org.

Team Roster

Team Roster

The PA Center-Pedes: In the Mid-Atlantic area there are approximately 150 young disabled individuals currently playing sled hockey.  There are also a large number of disabled adult players.  Realizing that many of the junior players where getting older, plus the growing number of adults wanting to play, it was evident that there was a need to create a local adult sled hockey team in the Mid-Atlantic area.  Jim Leatherman and Mike Doyle recognized this need and while working with the Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sport (PA Center) and Isabel Bohn, they were able to develop the supports needed to organize the newly created sled hockey program.

First out of the gate was the need for a team name and logo.  Wanting to show both support and our affiliation with the PA Center it was decided that that the team would be called the PA Center-Pedes or BUGS as we have affectionately become known as.  Everyone associated with the team agreed that creating a logo certainly presented a monumental challenge in order to come up with a logo for the team sweaters that would both capture the flavor of the team and still project an intimidating image to our opposition.  The call was put out to all the players, supporters, and just anyone that wanted to try their hand at designing a catchy team logo.  The Team searched locally as well as internationally for ideas and suggestions.  Everyone was in agreement that the design submitted by our friends in Sweden was the best and thus the Bugs identity took shape.  

Like most new Bug colonies, things started out slow at first.  However, we have quickly developed our team and program and recently have expanded into two teams, and see further expansion in the near future.  Our Bug program’s mission is to provide completive opportunities to the areas talented young players as well as adults that want to learn and enjoy the sport of sled hockey.  While working closely with the areas junior teams and other disabled sports programs, our Bug program is given many disabled athletes the chance to play at all levels.  The Bug team proudly acknowledges that we have already had 6 of our members participate on National Teams.  As is the case with all Bug colonies, our mission is to continue to expand and ensure that we offer all that wish to play this great game a chance to do so in a relaxed, enjoyable and yet competitive environment.

For more information visit our website at www.sledhockey.net/pacenterpedes/pacpindex.html

Team Roster

The United Spinal Association Islanders is one of the most competitive sled hockey teams in New York, boasting two starters from the 1998 USA National Team that competed in Nagano, Japan during the 1998 Paralympics and members of the 2004 USA National Team that competed in tournaments in Germany and Sweden. The Islanders are also deeply committed to the community and host regular sled hockey clinics throughout the year at various locations in the New York Metro area. Formed in 2001 through an innovative sponsorship with the New York Islanders, the team has brought the excitement and the physical benefits of sled hockey to dozens of individuals with mobility impairments, including children and teenagers, thanks to the generosity of the NHL, the efforts of United Spinal Association, and the cooperation of several participating ice rinks in New York.

The United Spinal Association Rangers sled hockey team was created through a cooperative agreement with the legendary New York Rangers of the National Hockey League in the Spring of 2003 and in December of that year the team put on a demonstration of the sport during the first intermission of the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game at the famed Madison Square Garden arena in New York City. The enthusiastic response from fans in attendance that evening confirmed that sled hockey has wide appeal and has inspired numerous clinics across the city where the sport is being introduced to people with disabilities of all ages. In March of 2005, the United Spinal Rangers hosted the 4th Annual United Spinal Association Sled Hockey Invitational Tournament in Mount Vernon, NY. Also in 2005, the United Spinal Rangers placed third at the USA Hockey National Disability Festival in Fraser, Michigan.

For more information about both the United Spinal Association Islanders and the United Spinal Association Rangers, please contact Victor Calise, Director of Sports Marketing, United Spinal Association, 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY, 11370; 718-803-3782 Ext. 274; vcalise@unitedspinal.org.

United Spinal Association is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease by ensuring quality health care, promoting research, advocating for civil rights and independence, educating the public about these issues, and enlisting its help to achieve these fundamental goals. To learn more about our many exciting programs and services, visit our Web site: www.unitedspinal.org.