The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports. Founded on 22 September 1989 in Düsseldorf, West Germany, its mission is to "enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world". Furthermore, the IPC wants to promote the Paralympic values and to create sport opportunities for all persons with a disability, from beginner to elite level.
Sledge hockey, also known as Para ice hockey, is an adaptation of ice hockey designed for players who have a physical disability. Initially known as "ice sledge hockey", the sport was rebranded as "para ice hockey" in 2016.
The Winter Paralympic Games is an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete in snow and ice sports. The event includes athletes with mobility impairments, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Winter Paralympic Games are held every four years directly following the Winter Olympic Games and hosted in the same city. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) oversees the Games. Medals are awarded in each event: with gold for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third, following the tradition that the Olympic Games began in 1904.
Para ice hockey at the Winter Paralympics has been held since the 1994 Winter Paralympics, when it was known as ice sledge hockey.
The Canada national ice sledge hockey team is the men's team representing Canada at international competition. The team has been overseen since 2003 by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. From 1993 until 2003, the team was an associate member of Hockey Canada. Since 2010 international para ice hockey has been a mixed event but Team Canada has yet to name a female player to its roster for any tournament. The national team created exclusively for Canadian women is the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team. This article deals chiefly with the national men's team.
The World Para Ice Hockey Championships, known before 30 November 2016 as the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships, are the world championships for sledge hockey. They are organised by the International Paralympic Committee through its World Para Ice Hockey subcommittee.
Joshua Pauls is an ice sled hockey player from USA and Member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. He took part in the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, where USA won gold. They beat Japan 2–0 in the final.
Billy Bridges is a Canadian ice sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball player. Born in Summerside, he has spina bifida. On July 1, 2011, Bridges married former Olympic women's ice hockey player Sami Jo Small. He competed at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, in Para ice hockey winning a silver medal.
Rico Roman is an American gold medal ice sled hockey player and Purple Heart recipient from Portland, Oregon who competed in 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.
Declan Farmer is an American ice sled hockey player and Paralympic gold medalist. Competing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics, he won a gold medal in ice sledge hockey at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Kelsey DiClaudio is an athlete that participates in women's ice sledge hockey. A member of the United States women's national ice sledge hockey team, she competed in the first-ever IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in 2014. Prior to competing with the national women's team, DiClaudio competed with men on the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins.
The 2014 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup was an international women's sledge hockey tournament and the first IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in history. The event was held from November 7–9, 2014, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Three teams took part: the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team, a unified team from Europe, and the United States women's national ice sledge hockey team. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee.
The Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup, formerly the World Sledge Hockey Challenge (WSHC) is an annual international ice sledge hockey tournament sponsored by Hockey Canada and the IPC Sledge Hockey. The tournament is an invitational format to bring four of the strongest ice sledge hockey teams together for international competition.
Nina Nissly is a women's ice sledge hockey player that compete for the United States women's national ice sledge hockey team. Born in Skupina, Russia, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in her infancy. Of note, she was a member of the US roster that competed at the inaugural IPC Ice Sledge Hockey International Women's Cup, capturing the gold medal.
The Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team is the national team representing Canada in women's international sledge hockey. The team competed at the IPC International Cup and now competes at the Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge. The team does not receive funding from Hockey Canada.
Ashley Goure is an athlete that participates in women's ice sledge hockey. A member of the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team since 2006, she competed in the first-ever IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in 2014.
Christina Picton is an athlete that participates in Nordic skiing and biathlon. She previously played women's ice sledge hockey. A member of the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team since 2006. Picton served as the captain of the national team during the 2014–15 season.
Christy Gardner is an athlete that participates in women's ice sledge hockey. A member of the United States women's national ice sledge hockey team, she competed in the first-ever IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in 2014. Prior to competing with the national women's team, Gardner served in the United States Armed Forces.
The 2017 World Para Ice Hockey Championships for A-Pool teams was held in Gangneung, South Korea, from 11 April through 20 April 2017. The opening ceremony was held on 11 April and games were played from 12 April through 20 April, followed by the closing ceremony.
Ken Babey is a Canadian ice hockey coach. He spent 27 seasons as the head coach of the men's hockey team at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, finishing his career with numerous records. Babey was also chosen to coach Canada men's national ice sledge hockey team, where he helped them defeat the United States to capture a gold medal at the 2017 World Para Ice Hockey Championships.
Gold: 1 – 2014)
