The city of Reno began its adaptive sports program in 2008, and since Reno Ice first opened in January 2021, they have been an integral part of that program. Sled hockey is an adaptive sport where players use specialized sleds that sit on top of two hockey blades, along with two special hockey sticks with teeth on the ends to help players propel themselves along the ice. It is also one of the first hockey programs developed at Reno Ice.
The sled hockey club in Reno has been a very important part of Reno Adaptive and Reno Ice since its beginning, and it is just as important to the players on the club. Sled hockey gives people of all abilities the opportunity to play hockey, and at Reno Ice no experience is necessary and all equipment is provided, so players can come learn the ropes of the sport.
Reno is still a small city, especially in the world of hockey. With only one ice rink, and only one team, players need to travel far to be competitive. Adrian Nicholas, the assistant hockey director and sled hockey coach at Reno Ice, told me about the current competitive state of the club: “It's the same idea as the kids where we have to travel or host, and we were able to set up some games in November against the LA adaptive team. So, we're going to play them in Mammoth, actually[...] We have games in March. It's a home tournament that we're hosting. It also comes with a development camp with USA hockey. So, that allows coaches to go in and learn about sled and adaptive sports, because you do need a different skill set than just standardized minor hockey.”
The sled hockey club is a young club that is still growing and developing. They are always looking for more sponsors and more players to join and help grow the adaptive club in Reno. For more information, visit renoice.com or reno.gov.
Reporting, audio and photo by Cece Arroyo.