This month's video features an explanation of sledge hockey, or sled hockey as it is more commonly known in the U.S. Sled hockey has been played in this country since the late 1980's and was introduced as a medal sport in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Games. Like ice hockey, sled hockey is played with six players, including the goalie. Rinks and goals are regulation Olympic size and the games consist of three 15-minute stop-time periods.
In the video clip, Patrick Byrne, a member of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Blackhawks Sled Hockey Team, explains how he got involved in the sport. He talks about his experiences on the U.S. sled hockey team and its victory in the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. Patrick discusses the necessary skills and adaptations needed to play the game as well as what types of equipment are necessary. After a brief run-through of the rules of sled hockey, Patrick takes the viewer through a series of six sled hockey drills, which include:
- Drop the Stick
- Control the Puck
- Suicide Drill
- Shooting Drill
- Figure 8 Drill
- 5 on 2 Drill
To watch this new video clip, go the new section of NCPAD's Sled Hockey Factsheet at http://www.ncpad.org/213/1401/Sled~Hockey.