Inclusive Sports

Initially, I thought I would be an adaptive basketball player. So how did I end up playing on a national championship women’s sled hockey team?

I give the credit to my grandpa.

I’m from Bemidji, Minnesota, which is about 200 miles north of Minneapolis. My grandpa took me to an adaptive sports event in the Twin Cities area in 2014. At that time, we found out there were no adaptive basketball resources in the Bemidji area, but I could join a sled hockey team.

Most people are familiar with stand-up hockey, where the players have only one stick and use their feet to skate on the ice. In sled hockey, we use two sticks. The players are ambidextrous, so we can shoot right- or left-handed. The sticks also have picks on the end, so we can propel ourselves across the ice as we sit in what I call a “bucket” that is actually our “sled.” The bottom of this “bucket” is flat and has two skates mounted to the bottom. The majority of the rules for stand-up hockey and sled hockey are pretty much the same.

I started playing sled hockey when I was about 9. I am now 21, and I’m amazed by the impact playing this sport has had on my life.

One of the best things to come from my athletics is the opportunity to travel. I went to Slovakia to play in my first women’s world championship. I found the people of Slovakia to be incredibly welcoming. Our game was sold out, and everybody was there cheering us on for our first international games.

My team won that first championship. I can recall the moment we won. I was sitting on the bench and watching the game clock tick down. When we won, everything stood still, and it was so incredible. Everyone on the team worked so hard, and then being able to win a medal with our names on it was really an incredible honor.

My first women’s world challenge tournament took me to Norway. That was a great experience too.

When I started playing sled hockey, there were not many girls interested in the sport. Now I’m happy to report that there are many girls who want to join a sled hockey team. I think seeing championship players and our dedication to the sport has inspired more girls.

Being a role model for other adaptive athletes is just one of the benefits of participating in sports. For me, sled hockey gave me a lot of problem-solving skills. It also helped with my communication abilities and helped me grow emotionally. Developing these skills will help in my future career plan to become a psychologist.

Another benefit comes when you look at how the community of sports is beneficial to families. My mom is a single parent, and when she took me to practice and sat in the stands, she got to network with other families. There was no guidebook for her on how to raise a kid who had a disability. When I joined hockey, she was surrounded by other parents in a similar situation. It really was a great support group for both of us.

There are many sports opportunities for people who have a disability. It’s not just Special Olympics. Adaptive sports is for us—it’s for people living with a disability. I’ve gotten a lot out of being on my teams, but I play because I love hockey.