Youth playing sledge hockey at the Big Marble Go Centre (photo courtesy Teagan Rasche)

By Teagan Rasche

Sledge hockey thriving in its Canadian birthplace

Dec 20, 2021 | 8:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Sledge Hockey has the same rules as stand-up hockey, five players aside and outscore your opponent.

But instead of using your legs, sledge hockey is played with only your upper body. This difference is what allows 11-year-old Tyler Odland to play the sport he loves.

“With me, I’m not physically able to skate that well,” Tyler said. “I enjoy being able to play hockey and being able to play a team sport. It’s really fun to be on the ice skating around.”

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Sledge hockey is a sport designed for people with lower body disabilities to be able to play hockey. Athletes sit in a two-bladed sled and have mini sticks in each hand.

Here in Medicine Hat at the grassroots level, anyone can play.

“We do obviously have athletes who maybe use a wheelchair or walker in their daily life but then we also have their brother and sisters and members of the public who are just looking for a different sport or maybe increasing upper body strength,” Tara Chisholm, program coordinator for Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation said.

Chisholm says the sledge hockey program here has 45 people registered, the most they’ve ever had.

One of the new athletes is Reid Hintz, who gets around on the ice with the help of coach Ivan.

“Fast!” Reid said. “We go fast, fast, fast.”.

Sledge hockey allows Reid to play a team sport and he doesn’t have to miss out on any action.

The welcoming group he plays with doesn’t ask questions. They just smile, score and play together.

“That’s one of the best things about adaptive sport is everyone has a story but no one has to tell it, they all just want to play and be social and out being active with one another,” Chisholm said.

The youth play hockey every Sunday, and the teens and adults play afterward. They are always accepting new registrants.

Sledge hockey is fast-paced and the athletes make it look easy, but Tyler says it’s far from it.

“After a long practice, it hurts sometimes because you’re constantly doing the same motion,” Tyler said. “It’s kinda fun, leaning to turn.”

Tyler and the rest of the players look forward to Sundays because it’s the day they all play the sport they love together.

Medicine Hat is hosting an adult and youth sledge hockey tournament January 14-16 at the Big Marble Go Centre. Six teams will be playing, including two visiting from Calgary.