New sleds: Grant allows Challenge Alaska to purchase adaptive equipment

WASILLA — For a number of years, Challenge Alaska’s Paralympic Sport Club has sponsored the Alaska Avalanche sled hockey team. With the team, Challenge Alaska, “a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and the whole community through sports,” created nearly an all-inclusive setting for those eager to enjoy the sport of hockey.

Now, Challenge Alaska has found another way to introduce new people to the sport.

Through a grant funded by the Mat-Su Health Foundation, Challenge Alaska has purchased a combined 12 new sleds, and they will soon be available for use at the Mat-Su Valley’s four indoor ice arenas.

“Almost anybody can get out on the ice and skate, with or without assistance,” Challenge Alaska therapeutic recreation coordinator Jeff Dick said of use of the sleds.

Sled hockey takes many of the concepts of the standard game of ice hockey, but incorporates different equipment to create a more inclusive version of the game. The sled, normally made of aluminum or steel, features a bucket seat and safety strap. Underneath are two blades mounted parallel and a runner at the front. Players use two shortened hockey sticks with a metal pick on one end and the blade of the stick on the other. The sticks are used to both shoot or pass the puck, and help move the player across the ice. And like standard ice hockey, players wear helmets and protective pads while fixed to the sled.

With the grant, Dick said, Challenge Alaska was able to purchase three sleds for each of the four arenas (the MTA Events Center in Palmer, Menard Arena and Brett Memorial Arena in Wasilla, and the Big Lake Recreation Center). The grant also included funding to purchase a kit for each arena that includes a head rest, knee rest, pusher handle and back rest. Gear in the kit allows the sled to be adapted for different users.

Dick said the sleds will live permanently at the local rinks, and be available for use during the open skate times of each arena. The arena’s open skate fee should be the only fee that applies to use the sleds. Rink employees at each arena will be trained to use and maintain the sleds, and they should be available for public use at the local arenas in early January.

Challenge Alaska is also scheduling demonstrations at the local arenas in the coming weeks. The first was Dec. 6 at the Big Lake Rec Center.

“Quite a few people were willing to give (the sleds) a try,” Dick said.

Dick said the next demonstrations scheduled are for Sunday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Menard Arena, and Dec. 23 from 4-6 p.m. at the Brett Arena. Challenge Alaska will also host a sled demonstration at the MTA Events Center in Palmer, on a date yet to be determined.

Dick said Challenge Alaska has kicked this idea around for a few months, and once the plan was formulated, it didn’t take long to accomplish, Dick said. Much of that is do to the assistance of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, he said.

Dick said in addition to getting people interested in using the sleds, he also hopes more people will become interested in joining Challenge Alaska’s sled hockey team, the Alaska Avalanche. Currently there is only one squad. Once the season starts in early January, the team will meet every Thursday at the Menard Arena.

Dick said with the new sleds, Challenge Alaska will also be able to use them for the sled hockey team as well. He said it also encourages people to use the sleds and practice at their home rink.

“We’re hoping people come out, check it out and want to try it,” Dick said.

Those interested in learning more about the sleds or sled hockey can contact Dick at jeff@challengealaska.org or 907-344-7207.