In a special episode of “Rehabilitationships,” we recorded on location at the Griff’s Sled Hockey Classic, a sled hockey tournament featuring over 200 athletes with disabilities.

ˈsled ˈhä-kē 

adaptation of ice hockey designed for players with varying physical abilities.

A highly competitive Paralympic sport, sled hockey is similar to traditional hockey, except participants sit on bladed sleds. It’s ideal for competitive and recreational athletes with lower-limb-affected disabilities. Earlier this year, the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey team won their fourth consecutive gold medal.

Players use shortened hockey sticks with a blade on one end and a pick on the other, which enables them to propel across the ice. Just like in traditional hockey, checking, penalties and hard slap shots are abundant.

In this conversation, we talk with the coach of the Grand Rapids Junior Sled Wings, Steve Kozlowski. We are joined by Megan Bouman, sports coordinator at Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports. Two athletes from the Junior Sled Wings and the Future Sled Wings jump in on the conversation, too.

Learn more about Mary Free Bed’s Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program, who proudly supports the teams: https://www.maryfreebed.com/services/wheelchair-adaptive-sports/ 

The Grand Rapids Junior Sled Wings are also supported by the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation: https://www.griffinskids.org/ 

Watch livestreams of some of the games from the tournament at Sled Wings Radio: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGV4v-w-YXnO7B8Czbx2R0A