USA Hockey Magazine

32 // AUGUST 2023 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Larry McCormack; USA Hockey Archive The quest has been five years in the making that began with a casual conversation with sled team- mate Brody Roybal about how to add diversity and variety to their already dedicated training regimens. "I had come off my first Olympic cycle and [Roybal] had come off his second and we were talking about how training year-round can lead to some burnout," Wallace recalls. "We were looking for some change in motivation and all that different stuff where, especially when it's summertime, you don't want to be stuck in a hockey rink all day." Roybal's athletic resume includes climbing the 103 floors of the Willis Tower in his hometown of Chicago, an impressive accomplishment under the best of circumstances, but given the fact that he used only his upper body to make the climb it was something else. Looking for more than just another challenge to match his friend and teammate, Wallace parlayed his passion for the water into his own cross-train- ing routine that eventually led to his pursuit of another Paralympic medal. " I love the idea of training outside, on the water, and the amount of cardio and upper body strength it takes. " — Jack Wallace Jack Wallace prepares for a training session at Percy Priest Reservoir. Even the waterskiing accident that cost Wallace his right leg as a 10-year-old couldn't diminish his love of the water, or his drive to compete. "I love the idea of training outside, on the water, and the amount of cardio and upper body strength it takes and the cross-training aspect of it," he says. G r ow i n g u p p l ay i n g a ny s p o r t h e c o u l d fi n d , Wallace quickly gravitated to hockey. The following summer he attended Camp No Limits, a camp for kids who have lost limbs. A counselor told him about adaptive sports, including sled hockey. The path was then set that would lead him to the U.S. Developmental Sled Team, and eventually the U.S. National Team. "I remember him coming to camp as a youngster," recalls David Hoff, who has spent the better part of a decade working with the U.S. Sled Hockey Program, including the last five seasons as head coach of the national team. "Over that time, he has continued to grow. You really realize that there was a lot of potential." While his path to the Paralympic Winter Games has been paved with gold, Wallace has found the summer route a bit more challenging. After setting his sights on the last Paralympic

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