Sledge hockey at Altrincham Ice Dome (From Messenger Newspapers)

Sledge hockey at Altrincham Ice Dome

5:15pm Wednesday 8th August 2012 in Sport

MANCHESTER Phoenix make their home debut in British Sledge Hockey at the Altrincham Ice Dome on Saturday August 11.

Planet Ice will be sponsoring the British Sledge Hockey League and will have teams from Kingston, Peterborough, The Battle Back Bison (consisting of injured military personnel) and Manchester Phoenix.

Saturday will showcase games between all teams and with players from all over the country, Phoenix will be doing their best to give the home crowd something to shout about.

The new Phoenix squad, coached by Pete Hagan, have current and former GB players in the line up.

Not only is this Phoenix’s first ever game, the weekend is also important in the build-up and preparation of the GB team for the 2014 Paralympics.

The action kicks off at 1600 hrs and is free.

What is sledge hockey?

Two men from Sweden invented the game in the 1960s because they wanted to continue to play ice hockey despite their physical disabilities.

The sled was designed to include two skate blades on a metal frame that allowed the puck to pass underneath. Two poles with bike handles for sticks and you still have the same basic design today.

Competition started up in 1971 with 5 European teams. GB established their first team in 1981 and Canada in 1982. The game was introduced into the Paralympics in 1994 and is now a major sport in the Winter Paralympic Games.

The game has developed immeasurably with the sport now totally inclusive, open also to able bodied players, incorporating mixed teams and has taken off at club level in Britain.