History of Ice Sledge Hockey

The exact origins of Ice Hockey are unknown but the sport developed in North America as a variant of other Games – such as shinty, hockey and hurling - bought to the country by European settlers.

Ice Sledge Hockey was invented in a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960s by a group of disabled men, who had previously played the able-bodied game, and wanted to keep doing the sport.

The group designed a metal-framed sledge and attached two skate blades to the underneath, which would allow pucks to pass beneath and they used two rounded poles and bike handles for sticks.

The sport grew in popularity and by end of the 60s a five-team league had developed in Sweden, which incorporated both able-bodied players and those with disabilities.

In 1969 the first international match took place with Stockholm hosting a team from Oslo in Norway. This became an annual event before teams from other countries took up the sport throughout the 70s and 80s.

At the inaugural Paralympic Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden in 1976 two Swedish national teams played an exhibition ice sledge hockey match. However it did not become an official Paralympic sport until the Lillehammer Winter Games in 1994.