ANGIE GOKHMAN AND JR GEARHART SPEARHEAD SLED HOCKEY PROGRAM IN ALTOONA

Monday, August 1, 2011

SOPHOMORE TEAM MANAGER ANGIE GOKHMAN AND TEAM CAPTAIN JR GEARHART ARE SPEARHEADING A CAMPAIGN TO ORGANIZE A SLED HOCKEY TEAM IN ALTOONA, PA. WHAT IS SLED HOCKEY? SLED OR SLEDGE HOCKEY WAS INVENTED AT A STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN REHABILITATION CENTER IN THE EARLY 1960'S BY A GROUP OF SWEDES WHO, DESPITE THEIR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, WANTED TO CONTINUE PLAYING HOCKEY. PLAYERS SIT IN SPECIALLY DESIGNED SLEDS THAT SIT ON TWO HOCKEY SKATE BLADES. PLAYERS USE TWO STICKS. ONE END OF EACH STICK HAS AN ICE PICK FOR PROPULSION ON THE ICE WHILE THE OTHER END IS USED FOR HANDLING THE PUCK. PLAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A HELMET WITH FACE CAGE, HOCKEY GLOVES, SHOULDER PADS, ELBOW PADS, NECK GUARD, AND SHIN GUARDS. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO BE FULLY FUNDED TO REDUCE COSTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AS WITH ALL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, FUNDRAISING MUST BE ONGOING IN ORDER TO WORK TOWARD THE GOAL. PART OF THIS FUNDRAISING EFFORT BEGINS SEPTEMBER 17, 2011 AT 2PM AT GALACTIC ICE WHEN THE PSU ALTOONA ICE HOCKEY TEAM WILL TAKE ON THE SLED HOCKEY TEAM THE JOHNSTOWN SITTING BULLS. ALL STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. GEARHART AND GOKHMAN STATED, "THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH A PROGRAM IS TO GIVE DISABLED ATHLETES A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPORT, SUCH AS ICE HOCKEY, THAT NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT HAVE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES TO CROSSOVER IN SUCH A FAST PACED GAME."