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HISTORY OF PARA ICE HOCKEY
Since its debut at the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Games, the Paralympic version of ice hockey has quickly become one of the largest attractions for spectators. It is fast-paced, highly physical and played by male and female athletes with a physical impairment in the lower part of the body. The sport is governed by the IPC with co-ordination by the World Para Ice Hockey Technical Committee.
It follows the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) with modifications. Instead of skates, players use double-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass beneath. Players use two sticks, which have a spike-end for pushing and a blade-end for shooting.
A direct descendant of ice hockey, Para ice hockey was invented at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960's by a group of Swedes who, despite their physical impairment, wanted to continue playing hockey.
The men modified a metal frame sled, or sledge, with two regular-sized ice hockey skate blades that allowed the puck to pass underneath. Using round poles with bike handles for sticks, the men played without any goaltenders on a lake south of Stockholm.
The sport caught on and, by 1969, Stockholm had a five-team league that included players with a physical impairment and able-bodied players.
That same year, Stockholm hosted the first international Para ice hockey match between a local club team and one from Oslo, Norway.
During the 1970s, teams from these two countries played once or twice a year. Several other countries began to establish teams, including Great Britain (1981), Canada (1982), USA (1990), Estonia and Japan (1993).
Two Swedish national teams played an exhibition match at the inaugural Örnsköldsvik 1976 Paralympic Winter Games in Sweden.
Para ice hockey became an official event at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games.
GROWTH OF ICE HOCKEY AT THE PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES
| YEAR | COUNTRIES | MALE PLAYERS | FEMALE PLAYERS | TOTAL PLAYERS | TOP 3 COUNTRIEES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 5 | 56 | 1 | 57 | 1. SWE 2. NOR 3. CAN |
| 1998 | 7 | 100 | 0 | 100 | 1. NOR 2. CAN 3. SWE |
| 2002 | 6 | 88 | 0 | 88 | 1. USA 2. NOR 3. SWE |
| 2006 | 8 | 112 | 0 | 112 | 1. CAN 2. NOR 3. USA |
| 2010 | 8 | 117 | 0 | 117 | 1. USA 2. JPN 3. NOR |
| 2014 | 8 | 128 | 0 | 128 | 1. USA 2. RUS 3. CAN |
| 2018 | 8 | 134 | 1 | 135 | 1. USA 2. CAN 3. KOR |
OVERALL PARALYMPIC MEDALS TABLE
| RANK | COUNTRY | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | Norway | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Canada | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | Sweden | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 5= | Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5= | Russia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
TOP 5 PARALYMPIC MEDALLISTS
| RANK | NAME | YEARS COMPETING | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Cash (USA) | 2006-present | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 2= | Nikko Landeros (USA) | 2010-present | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2= | Adam Page (USA) | 2010-present | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2= | Josh Pauls (USA) | 2010-present | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5= | Taylor Chace (USA) | 2006-2014 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 5= | Joe Howard (USA) | 2002-2010 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 5= | Taylor Lipsett (USA) | 2006-2014 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
COMPETITION DESCRIPTION
As in ice hockey, each team attempts to outscore its opponent by shooting the puck across the ice and into the opposing team's goal while preventing the opposing team from scoring. Six players (including the goalkeeper) from each team are on the ice at one time.
Double-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass underneath replace skates, and the players use sticks with a spike-end and a blade-end. Therefore, with a quick flip of the wrist, the players are able to propel themselves using the spikes and then play the puck using the blade-end of the sticks. A player may use two sticks with blades in order to facilitate stick handling and ambidextrous shooting. Ice sledge hockey games consist of three 15-minute periods.
SPORT EQUIPMENT
Protective gear: Because of the physical nature of the game, all players are required to wear a helmet with a full cage or mask. Players are also encouraged to wear protective padding, including shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads and large padded gloves. In addition, the goalkeeper wears leg pads, large shoulder pads, a helmet with a cage, a catcher glove and blocker glove to protect the athlete from pucks flying up to 100 km/h.
Puck: Made of vulcanised rubber or other approved material, the puck is 2.54cm thick, with a diameter of 7.62cm and weighs 156 to 170 grams.
Sledge: Made of aluminium or steel, sledges are 80cm minimum in length with a curved front end and a seating system called a bucket (seat). The sledge is set on two blades, which are usually made of tempered steel and are each 3 mm thick. The puck must be able to pass underneath the sledge. The height of the main frame must be between 8.5cm and 9.5cm above the ice, and the length of the blade may not be more than one-third of the total length of the sledge. The sledge may be equipped with a backrest, but it must not protrude laterally beyond the armpits when the player is properly seated. Straps secure a player's feet, ankles, knees and hips to the sledge.
Stick: In Para ice hockey, players use two sticks with a hooked blade at one end (for puck handling and ambidextrous shooting) and a pick at the other end. Each stick has a maximum length of 1m and is made of carbon fibre or fibreglass. The blade has a maximum length of 32cm, except for the goaltender's blade, which has a maximum length of 39cm. The pick end of the stick must not damage the ice surface or inadvertently puncture or slash other players, so the following rules apply:
No part of the pick or teeth may come to a sharp point.
The pick must not extend more than 1cm anywhere beyond the stick.
The pick must have at least six teeth, each with a maximum length of 4mm.
The goaltender may have an additional pick at the base end of his stick.
STRATEGIC PLAN
