By Lisa Parent

Sledge hockey program seeking volunteers, expecting more registrations than ever

Sep 11, 2023 | 3:16 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The days getting are getting shorter and the leaves are turning colour which only means one thing to many Canadians, it’s almost time for hockey season to begin. Medicine Hat Adaptive Sports is preparing for what they expect to be the largest sledge hockey season they’ve ever seen.

The sledge hockey program begins at the Big Marble Go Centre from October to March. It runs on Sundays and Tuesday’s, with both kid and adult programs.

Tara Chisholm is the Program Coordinator for Adaptive Sports. She says sledge hockey is for everyone, both disabled and able-bodied. The organization also allows athletes an opportunity to try the sport before committing to register, and also offers solutions for those who cannot afford the registration fee. Chisholm says this encourages inclusivity, which is why they expect a record amount of registrations this year.

However, with these extra participants, they’ll also need more volunteers. The program will need assistance off the ice helping gear players up, and on the ice pushing players in the sleds. They will also need some coaches. Chisholm says volunteers don’t have to be hockey experts, or even skating experts, just passionate about helping people and having fun.

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“If you are looking for something that you want to be fulfilled by, you want some purpose in that volunteering role, if you’ve got time to give, you will find it. In this community people are so gracious and they appreciate anybody who’s willing to take the time to help them be active in sport,” said Chisholm.

She added, “we have this wonderful community that you don’t really see this geographic of people coming together in other spaces. So it’s really neat to be able to bring people from different walks and wheels of life together into one space.”

The program allows players to participate in the Western Canadian Sledge Hockey tournament in Calgary. They also play exhibition games and tournaments in different places around Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Those interested in volunteering for the program can go to the Medicine Hat Adaptive Sports website.

Those wanting to join the program can register online here.

Sleds, sticks and jerseys are provided to participants, but they will need to bring a helmet with a cage, hockey gloves, shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin pads and boots/runners. “Try it out” equipment is available.