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 aims 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 Sled hockey in American English, and Para ice hockey in international competition, is an adaptation of ice hockey for players who have a physical disability. The sport was invented in the early 1960s at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, and played under similar rules to standard ice hockey. Players are seated on sleds and use special hockey sticks with metal "teeth" on the tips of their handles to navigate the ice. Playing venues use an ice hockey rink.
The first IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships was held between April 10, 2005 and April 16, 2005 in the eastern Moravian city of Zlín, Czech Republic. Participating 80 athletes from six nations: Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Sweden. The best European team joined the already qualified teams from Canada, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the USA and host country Italy to the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.
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, However there has only been one woman to ever play on the Canadian team. 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.
The 3rd IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships was held between February 12, 2011, and February 20, 2011, at Niphallen in Sollefteå, Sweden. Participating 130 athletes from ten nations: Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden.
Benoît St-Amand is a Canadian ice sledge hockey player. He had a bone cancer in his right leg when he was 15 (1993), and his leg was amputated above the knee in 1995.
Bradley Bowden is a Canadian ice sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball player.
Gregory Westlake is a Canadian ice sledge hockey player.
Marc Dorion is a Canadian ice sledge hockey player.
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.
Graeme Murray is a Canadian ice sledge hockey player. He contracted a virus when he was three, which spread to his spinal cord, causing paralysis.
Lee Jong-kyung is a South Korean ice sledge hockey player. He played in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. He won a silver medal at the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships, and 3 bronze medals at the 2018 Winter Paralympics and the 2017 and 2019 World Para Ice Hockey Championships. Lee was a member of South Korea's bronze medal winning team in para ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
Jung Seung-hwan is a South Korean ice sledge hockey player. He played in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. He won a silver medal at the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships. Jung was a member of South Korea's bronze medal winning team in para ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
Jang Dong-shin is a South Korean ice sledge hockey player and wheelchair fencer.
Jang Jong-ho is a South Korean ice sledge hockey player. He played in the 2010 and 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. He won a silver medal at the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships. Jang was a member of South Korea's bronze medal winning team in para ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
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 currently receives funding from the Hockey Canada Foundation through grants which enables it to run a grassroots development program.
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.
The 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships for A-Pool teams was held at HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York, United States, from April 26 through May 3, 2015.
Russia (1st title)
Germany (1 title),
Norway (1 title),
Italy (1 title),
