The GB Sledge Hockey team play their first game at the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships (Pool B) tomorrow, 12th March 2013, something that would not have been possible with the support of a number of key partners.
The team travelled to Nagano, Japan with the intention of securing a medal finish in order to progress to the final qualifying tournament, to be held later this year, for the 2014 Winter Paralympics Games to be held in Sochi, Russia.
The key partner for the GB Sledge Hockey team, and for Sledge Hockey in the United Kingdom, is Planet Ice, Europe’s largest ice rink facility management company. Planet Ice provide free facility hire to the GB team and also sponsor the British Sledge Hockey league in order to enable the growth and sustainability of Ice Sledge Hockey in the UK.
One of the main benefactors of the GB Sledge Hockey team is the Peter Harrison Foundation, who have contributed not only funding towards the GB team attending the World Championships in Japan but have also empowered the GB Elite programme by facilitating GB players and staff with ongoing access to top quality sports science support.
GB Sledge Hockey also benefit from having five athletes on the Talented Athletic Scholarship Scheme (TASS), run in partnership with Sports Aid and UK Sport. TASS provides sports science, medical and participation support to elite athletes in education or undertaking a course of study.
In order to provide a holistic approach to athlete development the GB Sledge Hockey team are supported by PIP Training who provide access to their world class training and education courses to members of the team.
GB players are proud to wear playing shirts provided through a sponsorship agreement with Rhino, one of the UK’s leading ice hockey apparel manufacturers, with off ice wear being provided by a combination of Adidias and one of the best supporters club in the world, the GB Ice Hockey Supporters club.
The GB team have also benefited from the support and donations from fans of some of the UK’s top ice hockey teams including the Basingstoke Bison, Coventry Blaze and Manchester Phoenix.
Matt Lloyd, Chairman of the British Sledge Hockey Association, said:
“The team that plays for GB on ice is part of a bigger team that dedicates itself to ensuring that our nation has a Sledge Hockey team to be proud of. Central to this larger team are the organisations, and their staff, who have chosen to partner with us and who share our long term vision of the GB team securing a Paralympic medal. ”
For all the latest news on the team, follow us on Twitter at @GBSledgeHockey or view our website at www.sledgehockey.co.uk
