Sled Hockey is Thrilling for Spectators and Challenging for Athletes

On 12 March, 2018, I watched with fascination as Team USA played Czech Republic during the second preliminary round game in Gangneung Hockey Stadium. Paralympic Sled Hockey is a physical game with many exciting moments as pucks are passed, stolen and shot toward goals. Pay attention or you will miss the fast-paced action! 

Fans were polite, applauding for both teams and expressing disappointment when a goal was missed or player overturned his sled. 
Game SUMMARY and STATS

Team USA was victorious in this preliminary game scoring 10-0 against its opponent. Spectators expect thrilling semi-final games today, hometown favorite Team Korea versus Canada this afternoon, and Team USA versus Italy tonight! 

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 View video and read MORE about Para-ice hockey from Paralympics.org

Para ice hockey follows similar rules to its able-bodied version, with the main difference in the equipment used. Swap ice skates with sledges, and two hockey sticks instead of one, and you pretty much have Para ice hockey.

It is one of two team sports at the Paralympic Winter Games, featuring fast-paced and physical action that makes it a spectator favourite.

History

Para ice hockey was invented at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960s by a group of Swedes who, despite their physical impairment, wanted to continue playing hockey. The sport made its Paralympic debut at Lillehammer 1994 in Norway.

In 2016, the sport was renamed and rebranded from IPC ice sledge hockey to Para ice hockey, and is governed by World Para Ice Hockey.

The competition

As in ice hockey, each team attempts to outscore its opponent by shooting the puck across the ice and into the opposing team's goal while also preventing the opposing team from scoring. Six players (including the goalkeeper) from each team are on the ice at one time.

The competition is a mixed team tournament, in which women can play alongside men. There are three 15-minute periods with 15-minute breaks. The match goes into overtime if the score is tied after the third period. If there is no goal in overtime, penalty shots are applied.

Equipment

Players sit in specially designed sledges that have two hockey skate blades. Each player has two sticks with metal pics on the butt end that allow players to propel themselves. Goalkeeper wears leg pads, body pads, a helmet with a visor and a catcher glove to protect the athlete from pucks flying up to 100 km/h.

Opening Ceremonies for 2018 Paralympic Winter Games

What a spectacle were the Opening Ceremonies for the 2018 Paralympic Games! Highlights included Korean soldiers performing incredible Tae-kwon-do, Bandabi the mascot riding a large skateboard, vigorous drummers, K-pop singers and energetic dancing, tenor and soprano vocalists, light shows, fireworks, playful children's dance troup, lighted wheelchair dancers, passing the torch to illuminate the Games, and many dignitaries -- all of this to salute the World's best para-athletes! 

The PyeongChang Games are the biggest Paralympic Winter Games on record with 567 athletes representing 48 countries, plus the Neutral Paralympic Athlete delegation.
Three countries celebrated first-time participation in Winter Paralympic Games, i.e., Georgia, Tajikistan and Democratic Republic of Korea. 

Moon Jae-In, President of The Republic of Korea, and Andrew Parsons, President of the IPC greet athletes and spectators

Traditional Korean dance originated as folk dances 

“Everything starts with a dream,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons. 

“The journey of an athlete starts with a dream: the dream of competing in sport; of representing your country; of winning a medal and writing your name in to history” (www.paralympic.org).

Lovely and graceful Ga-in Flower dancers

Past and present para-athletes from the Republic of Korea bring the Korean flag to center stage

Our roles as Ceremonies -- Team D were to gather hours before the event to remove remaining snow and ice, and clean athletes' seating, insuring no fall hazards. Our Team took pride in our work as we prepared Level 2 seating area for paralympians from 10 Nations.

We distributed to each seat commemorative pouches with blankets, beanies, cushions, a program and chemical hand warmers, insuring all would be comfortable despite 0 degrees Celsius temperature. 

During the Ceremony, we guided each team and athlete to the proper seat. We then responded to athletes' needs and insured that spectators and press did not enter a restricted area. This meant our position was center stage, ideal to watch the Ceremonies!

Parade of athletes proudly enter Pyeong Chang Olympic Stadium

Korean children's dancers enthusiastically welcome All!

The culmination of dreams brought to life for a young girl with visual impairment

Celebrating in moving sculpture the sports of the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games

Athletes proudly bring the International Paralympic flag to center stage to be raised with the anthem

The Paralympic torch arrives in the stadium escorted by para-athletes

From Paralympic.org, "The final torch relay symbolised the inclusive power of the Paralympics. South Korean biathlete Bogue Choi and North Korean cross-country skier Yu Chol Ma entered the stadium together as torch bearers.

The flame made it all the way to South Korean Para ice hockeyplayer Min Su Han, who, with his prosthetic, climbed a rope up to the Paralympic cauldron, and handed the torch off to compatriot and wheelchair curler Soonseok Seo. Along with able-bodied South Korean curler Eun-jung Kim, the two lit the cauldron." Athletes and spectators alike stood and applauded this incredible feat and the Opening of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games! 

Watch recording of full Opening Ceremony for 2018 Paralympic Winter Games

Today was my day off after working extra long hours into the night preparing for Opening Ceremonies of the 2018 Paralympic Games in PyeongChang. 

We were thrilled with an adventurous day spent in Seoraksan National Park, designated as a biosphere preservation district by UNESCO.  My traveling companions were Mitchell, my roommate from New Mexico, and Valentina, who is from Russia. We welcomed the sun after overcast snowy days. Many families came out to play this weekend day in the mountains. Parents and children enjoyed snowball fights; others made snowmen. 

Expedia Travel Guide to Seoraksan

We visited a mountain Buddhist temple built during the Joseon Dynasty in the 17th Century. Miraculously, it survived conflicts with Japan, North Korea and China. We marveled at colorful and ferocious guardians and listened to prayers chanted by grey-clad monks. For a small donation, visitors may leave offerings of rice and drink fresh spring water. 

After lunch of seafood pancake and coffee, it was time for a thrilling cable car ride! We visited a memorial to fallen soldiers of The Republic of Korea, who fought valiantly against the Red Army invaders in 1951. 

We climbed an ancient mountain of 5,000 feet using a cable trail in deep snow and felt atop of the World with splashing waterfalls and breathtaking views of craggy peaks. We saw nutcrackers, black-billed magpie and white-backed woodpecker foraging in the melting snow. Signs of mammal activity were chipmunks gathering seeds and tracks of musk deer and black bear. 

Despite having prosthetic implants, I was able to make the climb, but must admit it was challenging due to elevation, icy trail and cold temps. We welcomed the sun after overcast snowy days!

For dinner, we hopped a city bus and traveled to the nearby coastal city of Sokcho. Thankfully, others helped with directions about the fare and stop! 

We walked the colorful harbor twinkling with lights and busy with visitors seeking the perfect meal from the sea. We were amazed by hundreds of tanks permitting diners to select their entree straight from the ocean. Some deep water crabs had bodies bigger than my head! Also for sale were urchins, bass, sea squirts, abalone, oysters, flounder, mackerel, octopus and eel. 

We chose three fresh grilled fish and banchan small side dishes of kim-chee, seaweed salad, seaweed soup, bean sprouts, Korean sweet rice, very spicy dried fish, mushrooms, and marinated tofu. Three of us ate like kings for $40 total!  We dined as Koreans, sitting on floor mats...wonderful! A cup of brewed coffee and time for rest back at Hyundai Soo accommodations. 

Tomorrow is an early start for Men's biathalon!