Sled Hockey

Sled hockey is an exciting sport played on ice. Players sit on small sleds instead of skating on their feet. They use two short sticks to push themselves across the ice and hit the puck.

How the Game Works

Players sit in sleds that have two blades on the bottom, like small ice skates. Each player holds two short sticks. One end of each stick has metal picks to push across the ice. The other end has a blade to hit the puck.

The rules are almost the same as regular ice hockey. Teams try to shoot the puck into the other team's goal. There are three periods in each game. The team with the most goals wins.

History of the Sport

Sled hockey was invented in Sweden in the 1960s. A group of people who could not stand on ice skates wanted to play hockey. They built the first sleds and started playing on a frozen lake.

The sport grew quickly and became a Paralympic sport in 1994. Today, the United States and Canada have very strong sled hockey teams. The sport is fast, physical, and thrilling to watch.

Fun Facts

• Sled hockey was invented in Stockholm, Sweden in the early 1960s.
• The sleds sit only a few inches above the ice.
• Players can reach very fast speeds on the ice using just their two sticks.

Did You Know?

Sled hockey players use their sticks both to move and to shoot the puck, so they have to switch between pushing and hitting really fast!