About
- Debuted 1994, Lilehammer Winter Games
- Fast passed, played by males and females, physical impairment to lower body.
- Governed by IPC and the World Para Ice Hockey Technical Committee
- Follows the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) with some modifications:
Double blade sledges that allow the puck to pass beneath
2 sticks, which have 1 edge for propulsion and 1 edge for shots on goal
Competition Nature
- Try to outscore the opponent by shooting the puck into opposing the goal
- Prevent the other team from scoring
- Six players, including goalkeeper on ice at one time per team
- Ambidextrous shooting
- 15-minute periods
Equipment
Protective Gear
- Helmets required with full cage facemask
- Protective collar
- Protective padding (shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, large padded gloves)
- Goalkeeper (Leg pads, body pads, helmet and visor, catcher glove)
Puck
- Vulcanized rubber
- 2.54cm thick
- 7.62cm diameter
- 156 to 170 grams in weight
Sledge
- Aluminum or steel sledge
- 0.6m to 1.2m in length sledge
- Curved front end
- Two seating systems
- Sledge is set on two blades, each 3mm thick
- Puck must be able to pass underneath sledge
- Height of main frame must be 8.5cm to 9.5 cm above the ice
- Blade length must not be more than 1/3 of the total length of the sledge
- Back rest to the sledge is acceptable if needed.
Must stay within armpit width.
Straps secure the players feet, ankles, and hips to the sledge.
Stick
- Two sticks
- Wooden blade and one end and a pick at the other end
- Stick max length of 1m, made of wood, aluminum/ titanium
- Blade mas length 25cm, except for the goalkeeper’s blade, which is max 35cm
- Pick at the end of the stick must not damage the ice surface or puncture/ damage and players
- Point of the stick may not be more than 1cm beyond the stick
- Must have at least 6 points and max length of 4mm
- Goal keeper may have an additional pick at the base of his stick and may also use another stick
History
- Invented in a Stockholm rehabilitation center, Sweden
- Early 1960’s a group of swede’s, despite having physical impairments, they continued to play ice hockey.
- Five team league was developed during 1969
- League included able-bodied individuals and physically impaired individuals
- 1970’s – other countries start developed teams Great Britain (1981), Canada (1982), USA (1990), Estonia and Japan (1993)