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STARRINKS.COM JULY.AUGUST.2016 / 45 , More than 25 adaptive athletes tried sled hockey for the first time. more able-body participants also had the opportunity to experience sled hockey for the first time. The events were such a success that the arena will be home to a sled hockey team next year. "Sled hockey has been one of my favorite adaptive sports since trying it during my internship two summers ago," Gracz said. "I was thrilled and honored to hear WASA had the opportunity to start our very own team that I would have the privilege to be the program director for. "I look forward to working with our newly formed team come October!" "It was great to see the smiles on the participants' faces," said Mullett Ice Center director John Wardman. "We even had our employees and volunteers try it out, too. We were thankful that we had the opportunity to host this great event and look forward to growing community awareness of sled hockey with our friends at WASA." Also making the event—and a sled hockey program—possible were USA Hockey and Labatt Blue. WASA was one of 10 recipients to receive a $25,000 grant from the two groups. The grants were awarded to organizations to help start sled hockey programs across the nation in an effort to increase awareness of sled hockey. To do its part, WASA plans to open the 2016–17 season with a sled hockey team for all ages and abilities. To learn more about these or future events, or to see how you can start a program at your facility, contact Sam Gracz at sam@wisconsinadaptivesports.org or 414-430-6543. J I N S P I R E D B Y N A T U R A L L I G H T PHONE 1.832.717.5750 FAX 1.501.694.3330 EMAIL advice@constellationlighting.us 21175 Tomball Parkway, Suite 114 Houston TX 77070 L E D d e s i g n a n d m a n u f a c t u r e r Sled Hockey 101 Sled hockey was invented at a Stockholm rehabilitation center in the early 1960s by a group of Swedes who, despite their physical disability, wanted to continue playing hockey. Sled hockey follows most of the typical ice hockey rules with the exception of some of the equipment. Players sit in specially designed sleds that are attached on top of two hockey skate blades. There are two sticks for each player instead of one, and the sticks have metal picks on the butt end for players to propel themselves. Goalies wear basically the same equipment but modifications are made to the glove. Metal picks are sewn into the backside to allow the goalie to maneuver. Information courtesy of USA Hockey. , Thanks to a $25,000 grant from USA Hockey and Labatt Blue, Mullett Ice Center will host a sled hockey program in 2016-17.