HISTORY OF PARA ICE HOCKEY
A direct descendant of ice hockey, Para ice hockey was invented at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960's by a group of Swedes who, despite their physical impairment, wanted to continue playing hockey.
The sport caught on and, by 1969, Stockholm had a five-team league that included players with a physical impairment and able-bodied players.
That same year, Stockholm hosted the first international Para ice hockey match between a local club team and one from Oslo, Norway.
During the 1970s, teams from these two countries played once or twice a year. Several other countries began to establish teams, including Great Britain (1981), Canada (1982), USA (1990), Estonia and Japan (1993).
Para ice hockey became an official event at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games, the Paralympic version of ice hockey has quickly become one of the largest attractions for spectators.
Para Ice Hockey is fast-paced, highly physical and played by male and female athletes with a physical impairment in the lower part of the body. The sport is governed by the IPC with co-ordination by the World Para Ice Hockey Technical Committee.
Para Ice Hockey follows the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) with modifications. For example, nstead of skates, players use double-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass beneath. Players use two sticks, which have a spike-end for pushing and a blade-end for shooting.
As in ice hockey, each team attempts to outscore its opponent by shooting the puck across the ice and into the opposing team's goal while preventing the opposing team from scoring. Six players (including the goalkeeper) from each team are on the ice at one time.
Double-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass underneath replace skates, and the players use sticks with a spike-end and a blade-end. Therefore, with a quick flip of the wrist, the players are able to propel themselves using the spikes and then play the puck using the blade-end of the sticks. A player may use two sticks with blades in order to facilitate stick handling and ambidextrous shooting. Ice sledge hockey games consist of three 15-minute periods (https://www.paralympic.org/ice-hockey/about).
The national governing body for Para Ice Hockey in Australia is the Australian Para Ice Hockey Association.
In Victoria Para Ice Hockey is booming. Innovations in sled design, team and sport development initiatives are all happening here - NOW! So jump in a sled and try Para Ice Hockey. How? AAA (Access All Abilities) initiatives are a great way to try Para Ice Hockey.
In Victoria a number of Access All Abilities events are regularly held at O’Brien Ice House Docklands
For more information about AAA Para Ice Hockey events, and / or support/ join local Victorian Para Ice Hockey Team, The Sentinels, click here.