Cold steel on ice.

The wing cuts away from a defender, fields a crossing pass, and fires a slap shot pasty the outstretched glove of the goalie for a score. Cold steel on ice, power plays, a crashing check into the boards, breakaway goals. This is an old-fashioned hockey game, eh? Well, yes, but with a twist: the players are all seated on ice-hockey sleds. The description above could just as easily describe the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Finals as it could the World Cup Sled Hockey Tournament. Sled hockey has emerged from relative obscurity to recognition as an international and Paralympic sport for persons with mobility impairments.

Established in Scandinavia several decades ago, hockey enthusiasts adapted crude, heavy snow sleds to play the first ice-hockey game form a seated position. "Sledge" is the Scandinavian word for sled. Today, however, sleds are constructed of lightweight materials, usually stainless steel or aluminum, and mounted or regulation ice-hockey skate blades. The average weight of today's sleds is 12-18 pounds. New designs weighing less than 10 pounds, utilizing composite materials, are also being tested and developed, much in the same manner that hockey skates continue to improve in weight and performance.

Sled hockey allows persons with disabilities, who are prevented from participating in regular standing ice hockey, to enjoy and benefit from a vigorous, physical team sport that some describe as a cross between ice skating, rugby, bumper cars, and ballet. Each player must have a permanent disability that would preclude him or her from playing regular competitive ice hockey.

To equalize team abilities and ensure equal participation by players with differing levels of disabilities, a classification system has determined three ability levels. In most competitions, team point total of players on the ice cannot exceed 14 points. Each level is assigned a point value as follows:

One point -- Players with no functional sitting balance or with major impairment of upper or lower limbs

Two points -- Players with functional sitting balance, impairment of limbs or the truck/hips, and serious sensory limitations

Three points -- Players with good sitting balance and minimal functional disabilities or only slight impairment of limbs or sensory perception.

In some programs -- especially juniors -- when there are not enough players with disabilities, or to promote integrated programming, able-bodied participants are allowed to play with a classification of three points.

When playing sled hockey, the athlete sits low to the ice, strapped to a sled. The sled is basically a tubular frame balanced on a pair of ice-hockey blades. The blades are positioned under the seat cushion at the player's center of gravity. The sled contacts the ice at three points: the two blades and a small runner "ski." At the front of the sled a bent portion of tubing forms the front runner. Effective balancing on the player's part creates minimal contact with the front runner, except when the player is leaning forward. Sled-hockey frames, like sport wheelchairs, come with 14- to 18-inch seat dimensions and can be customized to an individual's specifications. The frame is uniformly 18 inches wide with adjustable lengths form three to four feet. All sleds are built to be three-and-one-half inches off the ice. This standard guarantees that sleds will contact one another (frame-to-frame) during competition, and ensures that sleds will not spear the bodies of opponents. Sleds are checked and measured before a game to guarantee safe participation.

A seat cushion is mounted on the frame with a backrest of varying lengths to promote whatever upper-body support a player may require. Two straps secure the player to the sled. One is tightened around the seat of the sled and the player's waist; the second is placed over and under the sled frame at the ankles or the thighs (in the case of an amputee). An optional chest strap can also be used for players who need greater support or body stability. It is critical to achieve a secure body-to-sled attachment, one that makes the sled an extension of the lower body and allows the player to easily control the sled by using slight body movements. Basically, the player wants to be balanced on the blades with movements of the hips and lower trunk transferred directly to the blades of the sled.

Many players utilize individual adaptations to maximize their control and skating ability. Common strategies include using foam cutouts or buildups to augment stability and cambering, widening or customizing blade placement for one-side weakness, and uneven weight distribution for amputees.

The sled is propelled by using two shortened hockey sticks or "picks." The sticks have a row of teeth, similar to the toe pick on figure skates, attached to the blunt or non-blade end of a sled. The player reaches forward, plants the metal teeth on the ice, pulls the sled forward, and pushes off form the contact point. Although this may sound difficult, with practice, rhythm, and technique, players can accomplish speed and maneuverability with minimal upper-body strength. The most difficult push is the one form a stationary position; so many players try to remain constantly moving, event at a slow speed, during the game.

The sticks also double as an adapted hockey stick to pass and shoot the puck. The stick on the end opposite the metal teeth contains a shortened, cut-down blade. This blade end is utilized to pass, block the puck, and, hopefully, score a goal. The sticks can be adapted to address grasp deficiencies by adding adhesive materials around the shaft, Velcro to the shaft and gloves, notching or cutting ridges in the stick, or taping rope around the sticks.

During play, the athlete will rotate the sticks while propelling the sled and passing/controlling the puck. With practice, the player learns different positioning of the hands, when to rotate the wrists internally and externally for directionality of puck passing, and various types of shots, passes, and blocks.

As in traditional hockey, raised puck shots and passing, corner net shots, position passing, rebounding, and other puck-control skills are possible. As physical contact is inherent in hockey, it is important that players wear protective equipment (helmet with facemask, mouth guard, throat protection, shoulder pads, and gloves). Protective pants (breezers), elbow pads, and shin guards are also recommended. The goalie is outfitted with a chest protector, shin guards, blocker glove, catcher's mitt, and goalie stick.

In sled hockey, regulation hockey rules apply with only a few modifications. Legal body contact, checking, and skating players off the puck are very much part of the game. Players may make contact with another sled; however, hits form a 90-degree angle or from behind will result in a charging penalty.

Besides physical contact, another important factor is conditioning. Sled hockey is played on a field of ice equal in size to an official National Hockey League playing area; this requires considerable stamina. Preseason and off-season conditioning and strengthening are the foundation for successful skill application during games.

Strategies and set plays utilized in standing hockey are promoted in sled hockey. Mobility on the ice; individual, line, and team positioning; zone defense; and the transition game are all important. Each team strives to spread its offense, control its passes, create scoring opportunities, keep the pressure on offensively, and fearlessly defend its goal. The game is played with five skaters (two wings, one center, and two defensemen) and a goalie.

1994 marked the inclusion of sled hockey into the Winter Paralympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The United States, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland were the first countries to compete in Paralympic hockey. At the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano, Japan, the competition also included Japan, Germany, Russia, Norway, and the United Arab Emirates.

The opportunity to play sled hockey allows athletes with mobility limitations to experience or, in some cases, re-experience the joys and benefits of a team sport. In addition to the many physical benefits, players develop self-esteem and self-image by being part of an activity that fosters intense team involvement.

For more information:

Thomas McPike, M.S., CTRS Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor Chicago Park District 425 E. McFetridge Dr. Chicago, IL 60605 [phone]

American Sled Hockey Association 10933 Johnson Avenue South Bloomington, MN 55437 [phone]

Sleds and equipment:

Penn Sled Olympic Wheelchair 25 Rothsay Avenue Kitchene, Ontario Canada N2B 3A2 [phone]

Woodworks, Inc. 146-C Valley Stream Road Nepeon, Ontario Canada K2H 9C6 [phone]

Canwin Ventures 2446 Bank Street, Suite 621 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1V 1A8 [phone]

Gopher Medical Supply 2550 Delaware Street, SE Minneapolis, MN 02238 [phone]

Hall's Wheels P.O. Box 380784 Cambridge, MA 02238 [phone]