Sled hockey, also known as Para ice hockey, is a fast-paced, full-contact sport played on ice, designed for athletes with physical impairments in the lower body. Players compete while seated on specially designed sled hockey sleds, using two sled hockey sticks to maneuver and strike the puck. The game follows many of the same rules as traditional ice hockey, with teams aiming to outscore their opponents over three periods of play.
Sled hockey made its Paralympic debut as an exhibition event at the Paralympic Winter Games Örnsköldsvik 1976. It later became a medal event at the Paralympic Winter Games Lillehammer 1994. Since then, it has grown into one of the most popular and competitive sports in the Paralympic program. Originally developed in Sweden in the 1960s, the sport quickly gained international recognition, leading to its inclusion in the Paralympics. The game’s fast pace and physical nature have made it a thrilling spectacle for fans worldwide.
Team USA first won gold at the Paralympic Winter Games Salt Lake City 2002 and has remained a dominant force in international competition. We also brought home gold in four consecutive Games: Paralympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010, Paralympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
Sled hockey follows a tournament structure featuring round-robin play followed by knockout rounds leading to the medal matches. Teams consist of six players on the ice at a time, including a goaltender. The game is played in three periods, with sudden-death overtime and shootouts determining winners in tied matches.
Follow along the sled hockey players' road to the Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Check out all the events Team USA athletes will be competing in on the road to Milano Cortina 2026.
| name | sport | education | hometown | medals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KB | Sled Hockey | Coats, NC | |||||||
 Tyler Carron Sled Hockey Paralympian 2014, 2018 Berthoud High School (Berthoud, Colo.) ‘07 Berthoud, Colo. Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey | Berthoud High School (Berthoud, Colo.) ‘07 | Berthoud, Colo. | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
 Steve Cash Sled Hockey Paralympian 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 University of Missouri-St. Louis, Finance ‘15 Overland, MT Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey | University of Missouri-St. Louis, Finance ‘15 | Overland, MT | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
 Taylor Chace Sled Hockey Paralympian 2006, 2010, 2014 Winnacunnet High School (Hampton, N.H.) ‘05 University of New Hampshire, Kinesiology ‘11 Hampton Falls, NH Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey | Winnacunnet High School (Hampton, N.H.) ‘05 University of New Hampshire, Kinesiology ‘11 | Hampton Falls, NH | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
LC | Sled Hockey | Saint Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, Minnesota) | River Falls, WI | ||||||
 Ralph DeQuebec Sled Hockey Paralympian 2018, 2022 San Pedro High School (San Pedro, Calif.) '01 Denver, CO Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey | San Pedro High School (San Pedro, Calif.) '01 | Denver, CO | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
 Travis Dodson Sled Hockey, Para Nordic Skiing Paralympian 2014, 2018, 2022 University of Illinois-Champaign Deming, NM Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey, Para Nordic Skiing | University of Illinois-Champaign | Deming, NM | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
 David Eustace Sled Hockey Paralympian 2022 Stoneham High School (Stoneham, Mass.) Stoneham, MA Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey | Stoneham High School (Stoneham, Mass.) | Stoneham, MA | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
 Declan Farmer Sled Hockey Paralympian 2014, 2018, 2022 Princeton University '20 Tampa, FL Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey | Princeton University '20 | Tampa, FL | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
 Noah Grove Sled Hockey Paralympian 2018, 2022 Towson University '22 Frederick, MD Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Sled Hockey | Towson University '22 | Frederick, MD | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
Players compete using sled hockey sleds, which consist of a metal frame with a seat mounted on two skate blades. The design allows for agility and speed while maintaining stability on the ice.
Each player uses two sled hockey sticks, which have metal picks on one end for propulsion and a curved blade on the other for puck handling and shooting. These sticks allow players to maneuver effectively while maintaining control of the puck.
Paralympic sled hockey is played on a standard ice hockey rink, featuring the same dimensions, markings and goal structures as Olympic ice hockey. Boards, protective glass, and penalty boxes are also part of the competition environment.
History is being made this weekend.For the third time in its 12-year history, the U.S. is hosting the World Para Ice Hockey Championships on home soil. Additionally, Team USA will be broadcasting games as its first-ever livestream of an event on its we...
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Team USA has been writing and rewriting the sled hockey history books for the last decade, and it will head into the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 ranked No. 1 in the world as both the reigning Paralympic and world champions. The U.S. roster fo...
