RPI Sled Hockey Game a Success

Photo by Ottmar Klaas

TROY, N.Y. -- The Rensselaer men's and women's hockey teams took to the ice for the first time in 2009-10 last Friday, playing an exhibition match against the Capital District Sled Warriors. The event was put on to help raise money and awareness for the sled hockey team and STRIDE Adaptive Sports.

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The game, which was won by the Capital District Sled team, 4-3, featured Mike Blabac, goalie on the USA National Sled Hockey Team, who played in the net for the Warriors. The top skater for the Sled Team was Taylor Chace, one of the U.S. Paralympic Sled team’s top players and brother of RPI women’s winger Rossli Chace.

Sled hockey is a Paralympic sport which allows people with limited or no use of the lower body to compete in a hockey game. They propel themselves using custom hockey sticks that are shortened with picks placed on the end. “Once you are on the ice it’s just hockey,” said U.S. Paralympian, Adam Paige when he recently spoke at a local Paralympics seminar hosted by STRIDE.

While sled hockey teams don’t traditionally play against able-bodied, stand up hockey teams, RPI’s hockey coaches and the Capital District Sled Warriors feel the scrimmage will assist in bringing awareness to the Sled Warriors and STRIDE. RPI players will have a chance to practice prior to the game, which will be played in three 15-minute periods.

STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a volunteer non-profit organization providing over 4,000 adaptive sport and recreation lessons annually to children & individuals with special needs. STRIDE has over 250 skilled volunteer sport instructors, serving more than 1000 families, and offers free programs in 17 different sports and locations. The focus is education in individual life-time sports. With three employees, two of whom are funded through endowed grants, the annual operating budget is comparatively modest, and funding goes directly to programs. STRIDE is an affiliate member of Disabled Sports USA, Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors; an official Red Cross Provider; New York Special Olympics, and US Paralympics Sport Club. STRIDE is recognized as one of the leading adaptive sport programs in the Northeastern United States.