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JULY 2023 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 43 condition that impairs the development of the lower half of the body, joined the pro- gram as a 19-year-old in the 2010-11 season. Over the next 16 years, McKee racked up great stats. He finished his career with the second-most games played (184) in national team history and is fifth in points (145), goals (61) and assists (84). McKee takes a lot of pride in being able to play on Team USA for over a decade and a half. A h e a d o f t h e 2 0 1 8 G a m e s i n PyeongChang, McKee began to adjust his play style from a score-first forward to more of a "grinder" and leader of the team. "I take pride in that I was able to do that, because if I didn't, they would have prob- ably let me go," he said. "I did little things and whatever I could on the team to help the guys, because that's ultimately what matters is the team winning." Along with his four Paralympic gold medals, McKee captured six gold and three silver medals while playing in nine World Championships. Sled hockey has been such a big part of McKee's life, and he's going to miss spend- ing time with his teammates. "It's the memories off the ice, probably for sure," he said. "The lock- er room stuff, the pranks, the jokes, just getting the guys ready, the chants sometimes we do. I'm really going to miss the tradition Spuds [Josh Pauls] got me on with tossing the ball before games and just like talking with him. Talking about the game coming up or just talking about life. I'm going to miss all of that for sure. "On the hockey side, I'm going to miss competing in practice and [trash]-talking and that kind of stuff." McKee, who is married to U.S. Women's National Sled Hockey Team captain Erica McKee, resides in Davenport, Iowa. He has been involved in real estate for the last eight years and is looking at possibly opening a gym. "I'm just trying to find a new career and a new passion and then I don't know, maybe I'll find another sport," he said. "I've kind of taken over our adaptive sports program here in the Quad Cities, so I've been doing that over the last three years." A wheelchair lacrosse team was started two years ago in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois and has steadily grown in popu- larity. Playing wheelchair lacrosse reminds McKee of what it was like when he first started sled hockey. Being on the ice might be in the rearview mirror for McKee, but as a high-level com- petitor, he'll never lose his desire to win. P "I did little things and whatever I could on the team to help the guys, because that's ultimately what matters is the team winning." USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM NOV/DEC 2026 // 43