On Sunday  14^th August the British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA), Silver Blades, Kent Sports Development RGK  all got together to provide the opportunity to the community of Gillingham to experience and enjoy the sport of Sledge Hockey.

The session, led by Paralympian Matt Lloyd Manager, was attended by hockey players and individuals from the local community and provided the opportunity for disabled and abled bodied people to enjoy skating and playing ice sledge hockey.

The session was well supported by the Invicta Dynamos professional ice hockey team and by players from the junior hockey teams based at Gillingham Ice Bowl.  It is hoped that the Dynamos will partner with the BSHA and Silver Blades to establish a competitive ice sledge team playing in the British Sledge Hockey league.

The BSHA is grateful to Silver Blades for donating the session at Gillingham (worth approximately £400) and for giving the Basingstoke community the chance to try Sledge Hockey.  Vernon Neil, Operations Director of Silver Blades said, “until recently I was unaware that Sledge Hockey existed and as a result disabled people only accessed ice rinks by being pushed around them in their wheelchairs.  Once I found out there was an inclusive alternative I took action to ensure we could provide this at all of our rinks”.

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”.

The British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA) is proud to announce it is working in partnership with the Silver Blades group of ice rinks to provide the opportunity for everybody to play Sledge Hockey in Gillingham, Cannock and Altrincham.  Throughout August each Silver Blades rink will offer a free Sledge Hockey taster session and will then provide one hour of ice time for training each week starting in September.

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 our rinks in Altrincham, Gillingham and Cannock.  Sledge Hockey is an amazing sport and we are committed to ensuring that all of our rinks have 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 their rinks 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”.

The dates and times for the taster sessions are as follows;

• Altrincham: August 6th 4.30pm-6.30pm
• Gillingham: August 14th 4.30pm-6.30pm
• Cannock: August 21st 7.30pm-9.30pm