Continue reading »]]> Swindon Wildcats in the Community are proud to be launching their sledge hockey initiative at their Fill the Rink game at the Link Centre on the 26th November whilst supporting the Undentable Trust.

A team of local celebrities will take on an Armed Forces team representing the Undentable Trust charity in the period break of the Swindon Wildcats ice Hockey game against the Peterborough Phantoms that night to launch the scheme. Sledge Hockey is an inclusive Paralympic sport for disabled and non disabled people of all ages and abilities giving them the chance to take part in a winter sport that is fun and accessible.

The Sledge Hockey game will be officially started with a ceremonial puck drop by North Swindon Member of Parliament Justin Tomlinson who has been a great supporter of the community work that the Swindon Wildcats undertake.  He will be joined by More Radio DJ Howard Taylor, local World Record Breaker and renowned fitness guro Mike Buss, and Swindon Advertiser Sports reporter Ned Payne, representing the Celeb team with more names to be confirmed soon.

The game is a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE game with vouchers for the offer available in the Swindon Advertiser on the next two Fridays, online at www.swindonwildcats.com and via the Link Centre itself with ticket sales already very good.

With tickets discounted the Undentable Trust team will also asking people to donate to their great cause.

Justin Tomlinson MP said, “This is a great cause and I’m very happy to be supporting it.  I’m a big believer in the need for kids to get active and get involved in sporting activities, so I hope this is a real success.  It sounds like it will be a great evening and I wish everyone involved well – may the best team win!”.

Tracey Rogers from Swindon, is a representative of the Undentable Trust, a charity set up in her brother Captain Mark Hale’s memory after he was killed in Afghanistan in 2009 to raise money to support injured soldiers and bereaved families says, “I am delighted that The Undentable Trust has been chosen by Swindon Wildcats to be the charity for the launch of the Sledge Hockey scheme.  It will be a fantastic evening and The Undentable Trust team are looking forward to beating the Swindon Celebrities!  This is a great honour for us to be selected and we hope to raise a huge amount of money on the night to provide ongoing support to those who really need it”

More exciting news on the Wildcats Fill the Rink and Sledge Hockey Launch game will be out soon so get yourself a voucher and your tickets and keep up to date via Social Media and www.swindonwildcats.com

The Wildcats will also be starting up a Sledge Hockey team as well as running “Have a go sessions” in the near future.  For more information or if you are interested in taking part contact Ben Humphrey on 07815 77593 or email bhumphrey@swindon.gov.uk or contact the Wildcats office on 01793 885857 or email office@swindonwildcats.com

Continue reading »]]> The British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA)  is proud to announce that three of its members have been selected to join the European Ice Sledge Hockey programme.  The three players are; Julie Plumbley (Peterborough Phantoms), Caroline Bonner (Coventry Flames) and Sarah Geddes (Basingstoke Bison).  The trio are being supported by GB Team Manager, Captain Readford Geddes.

The European women’s sledge hockey programme is led by the Netherlands, Johan Balder, a Paralympic Ice Sledge Speed Racer and Dutch Ice Sledge Hockey Player.  The intention of the programme is to develop an all-female European team to play against the female teams of Canada and the USA in May 2012.

Julie said, “I am so pleased to be given this opportunity.  I only started playing Sledge Hockey after attending a British Paralympic Association talent ID day earlier this year.  Thanks to the support of my team, the Peterborough Phantoms, I have developed as a player and it is my dream to play for both the European women’s team and the GB team next year.  I’m also really honoured to get the chance to meet, and play with, Betty Meijer who was the first woman to play Sledge Hockey at an IPC event”.

Captain Geddes said, “It is great to see British Sledge Hockey working in cooperation with other countries to develop the sport of ice sledge hockey, inclusion and opportunities for women to play sledge hockey at the highest level.  We hope that this will inspire European countries to develop female players with a few to developing national women’s team”.

BSHA Chairman said, “This is a great initiative for us to be involved in.  In the early part of the last decade there was a British all-female team lead by Joanna Coates-McGrath, the Ice Maidens, but they disbanded due to a lack of competitive opportunities.  The BSHA will do everything it can to support the initiative and we hope to see players from this programme participating at the World Championships next year”.

Continue reading »]]> 23 Aug 2011

With just over one year to go until the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, new British Paralympic Association Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth today stated clearly his belief that the Games can offer a moment of real transformation for Paralympic sport in this country.

He said: “Holding the Paralympic Games can have a profound effect on the host country. That was seen in Beijing where the achievements of people with an impairment, who had once been hidden away, were celebrated by the whole nation, and again in Vancouver, where ice hockey fans sat on their skateboards to play sledge hockey in the streets during the Paralympics. For the young people in Vancouver, this was just a different and uniquely cool way of playing their sport. Crucially they saw past the disability and just saw elite athletes playing a really exciting version of a game they loved.

My Bold for the full story go to: here.

Continue reading »]]> This summer has seen the emergence of the fully inclusive sport of Sledge Hockey as a family friendly summer alternative to ice hockey.  Having generated crowds of over 200 spectators at some events Sledge Hockey has demonstrated it has all the thrills and excitement of traditional hockey but in a form that allows everybody to play and welcomes everyone to watch.

Sledge Hockey is a variant of ice hockey and can be played on and off ice, using sledges to allow participants to move about the rink at high speeds hitting a puck travelling at speeds of up to 100kph.  Players sit in adapted sledges, propelling themselves with sticks adapted to allow propulsion in a manner similar to skiing.  As players are strapped to a sledge everybody has the same restrictions, regardless of whether or not the player has a disability.

Hull based Kingston Kestrels ultimately won the league, demonstrating skill, vision and experience.  Lead by the league’s top point’s scorer, Karl Nicholson, the Kestrels iced a fully inclusive team featuring new comers, Paralympians and a host of experienced club players.

Once the league had finished attention turned to the playoffs, a celebration of sledge hockey and the athletes and volunteers involved.  Originally intended to be a fun competition between the top three teams in the country, due to transport difficulties on the day only the Kingston Kestrels and the Peterborough Phantoms were able to attend.  As the Phantoms were missing key players Matthew Coleman and Darren Brown, the Kestrels generously allowed Karl Nicholson to play for the Phantoms in order to ensure a competitive event.  The Phantoms emerged as winners, beating the Kestrels by nine goals to five.

John Neville, Managing Director of Planet Ice, sponsors of the Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league said, “It has been a honour and a privilege to support Sledge Hockey this year and something I am delighted to announce will continue next year.  Sledge hockey is a sport that anyone can enjoy as a fan, but more importantly, they can enjoy playing.  The excitement and passion we’ve seen in the league this season rivals the excitement and passion seen at the highest levels of English ice hockey.  I’m delighted that a team from Planet Ice rink won the playoffs and would like to congratulate the Kingston Kestrels on winning the 2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league”.

At the end of the playoffs the end of season trophies, sponsored by Portland Trophies, were presented to the all-star team, MVP, top point scorer and top net minder and it was announced that the 2012 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league will be expanding to include new teams that have started up having seen the success of the league and the playoffs including teams from Stoke Mandeville (Milton Keynes), Scotland, Manchester and Coventry.

In addition Planet Ice will be launching learn-to-play sledge hockey programmes at all of their rinks

All-star team: Rob Gaze (Phantoms), Matt Clarkson (Kestrels), Tyler Christopher (Bisons), Matt Coleman (Phantoms), Karl Nicolson (Kestrels) and Gary Farmer (Phantoms).

• Top points scorer: Karl Nicholson (Kestrels)
• Most valuable player: Gary Farmer (Phantoms)
• Top net minder: Robin Gaze (Phantoms)

Continue reading »]]> It was, ultimately, the Kingston Kestrels from Hull that deservedly won the 2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league, demonstrating their pedigree as England’s most established Ice Sledge Hockey team.  Featuring the league top points scorer, Paralympic veteran, Karl Nicholson and a host of up and coming player such as Matt Woollias.  The Kestrels pushed hard all the way and Nicholson only beat his GB teammate, Matt Clarkson, by 5 points.  Whilst the Kestrels dominated the season, going undefeated, questions will be asked whether or not they have a strong net minder in Bryan Hackworth.  Hackworth may have conceded very few goals but in truth faced very few shots, being protected by an efficient and talented team who rarely let the puck pass over their blue line.

Possibly the surprise of the league were the Peterborough Phantoms, led by rookie coach Dan Breen and featuring the star net minder of the season, Robin Gaze.  Gaze, who is noted for bringing a completely new style of goal tending to the game of Sledge Hockey, established the best save percentage in the league.

Although unlucky to not win a single game the Battle Back Bisons won the hearts of everyone who watched them play.  Hampered by a system that meant they were unable to field a consistent team they showed guts and determination and never let their heads drop.  The smart money is on them identifying a few new players over the off season and setting their expectations for next season at nothing less than league champions.

A special mention is needed for the back office team who made sure the league was such a great success.  Mike Pack, Operations Director of the British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA) who has worked tirelessly and has been supported by the Head Official, Ken Riddell, who has ensured a consistent and well organised group of linesmen and referees.

Saturday will see the playoff finals at Coventry, with the trophy and awards being sponsored by Portland Trophies, exclusive trophy supplier to the BSHA.  Coventry has been selected as it is hoped to host future International Paralympic Committee events such as the World Championships.

Continue reading »]]> Thank you for making the 2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey League such a great success.  We’ve had crowds of 200 at some events, fantastic action and demonstrated that Sledge Hockey is a fully inclusive family sport.  All of the players, coaches, team managers, officials and rink staff should be extremely proud of the success of the 2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league.

Special thanks should go to Ken Riddle for organising all of the officials for the league and Portland Trophies for supplying all off the trophies.

Below is the final player statistics.  Congratulations to Karl Nicholson on being the top points scorer.

Continue reading »]]> The British Sledge Hockey Association is proud to announce that the 2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey League (BSHL) playoffs are coming to Coventry Skydome on Saturday 20^th August 2011. The BSHL playoffs will showcase the competitive, inclusive sport of Ice Sledge Hockey and feature the top Sledge Hockey teams in the UK; Battle Back Bison, Kingston Kestrels and Peterborough Phantoms. The playoffs will provide an exciting, full contact, high energy summer event in a venue being consider as a host for future ice sledge hockey world championships.

Sledge Hockey is a variant of ice hockey and can be played on and off ice, using sledges to allow participants to move about the rink at high speeds hitting a puck travelling at speeds of up to 100kph. Players sit in sledges, propelling themselves with sticks adapted to allow propulsion in a manner similar to skiing. As players are strapped to a sledge all players have the same restrictions, regardless of whether or not the player has a disability.

Matt Lloyd, Chairman of the BSHA said, “The Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey playoffs will be a celebration of an amazing summer of sport.  At the last round of the league we had over 200 spectators all enjoying a professional event providing hours of entertainment for free.  It has been great to see the progress of the new teams and I’m sure everybody will agree that the Kingston Kestrels are worthy league champions”.

John Neville, Managing Director of Planet Ice said, “Sledge Hockey is amazing as it provides a fast, full contact, high adrenalin sport which can be played by anybody and where everybody is equal. Planet Ice is 100% committed to ice sledge hockey and we hope to work with the British Sledge Hockey Association to host European and World championship events in the UK”.

The playoffs start at 4pm on Saturday 20^th August at Coventry Skydome and are free for spectators.  At the end of the game there will be a presentation of trophy’s, all of which are sponsored by Portland Trophies, exclusive trophy supplier to the BSHA.

Continue reading »]]> On the 14th August 2011 the ultimate team sport is coming to Gillingham ice rink, giving everyone the chance to experience one of the fastest, most exciting team sports in the world.  Between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm anyone can come along, get strapped to a sledge and experience the exciting sport of Sledge Hockey for free.

Sledge Hockey is a variant of ice hockey and can be played on and off ice, using sledges to allow participants to move about the rink at high speeds hitting a puck travelling at speeds of up to 100kph.  Players sit in adapted sledges, propelling themselves with sticks adapted to allow propulsion in a manner similar to skiing.  As players are strapped to a sledge everybody has the same restrictions, regardless of whether or not the player has a disability.

Equipment is exactly the same as for ice hockey with the exception of the sledge and an additional stick.  Sledge Hockey is a full contact sport and the rules are the same as those for ice hockey with a small number of additional rules to allow for the difference in equipment.

Vernon Neil, Group Operations Manager for Silver Blades said, “We are really looking forward to Sledge Hockey coming to Gillingham rink.  Sledge Hockey is an amazing sport and we are committed to ensuring that Gillingham ice rink has a competitive presence in next year’s Sledge Hockey league. “

Matt Lloyd, Chairman of the British Sledge Hockey Association said, “The support and drive from Silver Blades to put Sledge Hockey into Gillingham ice rink has been amazing and it is great to see there are still companies with the vision and drive to champion minority sports and to demonstrate their commitment to social inclusion”.

Continue reading »]]> On Thursday 6^th July the British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA), Planet Ice, Hampshire Sports Development and Basingstoke Bison all got together to provide the opportunity to the community of Basingstoke to experience and enjoy the sport of Sledge Hockey.

The session, led by GB Team Manager Red Geddes, was attended by schools and individuals from the local community and provided the opportunity for disabled and abled bodied people to enjoy skating and playing ice sledge hockey.

Steve Moria, Head Coach of the Bison, attended the session and was ensured that the children that attended were engaged in a fun, friendly game of Sledge Hockey and offered complimentary tickets to everyone who attended, saying, “some of the guys who’ve tried Sledge Hockey today never realised that they could be part of the Bison family and it’s important that we make them feel welcome and try and get them to become part of the herd”.  The “herd” Steve refers to is the name given to the Basingstoke Bison fans.

Becky Crisp who brought a school group comprising of young people with both learning and physical disabilities said, “Wow, what a wonderful opportunity.  The kids were buzzing about it on the way back to school and have not stopped talking about it since.  It was a truly magical experience to watch them grasp the basic skills so quickly and gain the freedom of movement so many of them struggle with usually”.

The BSHA is grateful to Planet Ice for donating the session at Basingstoke (worth approximately £600) and for giving the Basingstoke community the chance to try Sledge Hockey.  John Neville, Managing Director of Planet Ice said, “until recently most disabled people could only access ice rinks by being pushed around them in their wheelchairs.  This is something I found completely unacceptable and I am proud that Planet Ice is working with the BSHA to ensure that everybody, regardless of whether they can ice skate or not, can enjoy using our ice rinks and have the opportunity to participate in a sport I believe is the most inclusive in the world”.

Continue reading »]]> Once again the Stormers Ice Hockey recreational team led by Andy Rendall and Lee Turkington played another charity match. This time they played the ferocious Sheffield Ice Tigers, who like the Stormers gave up their valuble time for such a worthy cause.

This time they were joined by the Grimsby Phantoms Sledge Hockey Team. This is made up of able and non able bodied children and adults. When they heard about the match they wanted to help in any way they could. William Heselgrove had said he wanted to help raise money so children could go to Lapland with “When we Wish Upon a Star” just as his brother Oliver had done a few years before.

Pat for Wish upon a Star appeared over whelmed. She had commented on how it now cost a staggering £375 per child to go to Lapland now. In the current financial climate it will be even more difficult to raise the funds needed for this trip this year.

The fabulous Grimsby Phantoms Sledge Hockey Team started the night with their first session and was led out by Mick Barley and Ali Tidswell “Tiddy”. These amazing children and adults showed the crowd how well they had increased their skills. The two goalies Tim and Ben had their worked cut out for them. As the hooter sounded the score was 0 – 0. As the Stormers and Ice Tigers started their session the Stormers was hit by a storm of their own as the Ice Tigers roared into the lead.

The Phantoms went on to play two more sessions and although they started to tire their share tenacity and determination to achieve was seen by all. The game ended with the orange Phantoms winning 1 – 0. During the last two sessions the Stormers hit back hard and gained an 8 – 6 victory against the Ice Tigers.

At the end of the night the Stormers, Ice Tigers and Phantoms did a lap of honour, which was well deserved. Some of the Phantoms walked if they could, others like Oliver was pushed by his father Steve and Parky walked round with his rolator with the assistance of his Aunt Zoe and TA Bev. There was not a dry eye to be seen in the rink.

Approximately £1000 was raised and there is still more money to be collected. This showed the amazing community spirit felt in Grimsby ice rink on July 2nd. We would like to thank every one who gave up their time and made donations to this wonderful cause.