Team Saskatchewan attends first-ever provincial sledge hockey tourney
By Jordan Parker
Last weekend showcased a Team Saskatchewan sledge hockey club that had never been put together in provincial history.
They played the Southern Alberta Allstars – made up of players from Calgary and Medicine Hat – on January 22 and 23 in Kindersley, SK., in tilts that helped them hone their talents.
“This was just an incredible experience for them,” said Team Saskatchewan Manager Tracy Lyons following the games. “We didn’t know what to expect, because for years these players only went up against each other.”
Chief among the reasons the games came to Kindersley was Lyons’ tireless efforts.
“We had a group that got together before COVID-19 to put a team together, and then we got shut down,” she said.
During the summer, they began again when restrictions relaxed. Coaches all got together and asked the players if they wanted to return.
“Since we had time we decided to hold tryouts so we really could get the best of the best in the province and here we are now,” she said.
After the games in Kindersley, the team realized there was a hugely competitive world to sledge hockey as a sport, and were invigorated by their experience.
“Everyone was so committed, and practices were always well-attended. This group did everything they can to make this work,” she said.
The first game was a 6-2 loss, and the second an 8-2, but for the team, it was all about the incredible experience.
“We definitely learned what we need to work on as a team. But we scored goals, which was wonderful. We didn’t expect to win,” she said.
“We know areas we need to work on next, but we’re working together and gelling well. It was fantastic and a really nice weekend.”
A difficult aspect was that COVID-19 dampened what Lyons thought would be a bigger crowd.
“We want to raise visibility for sledge hockey, and we thought lots of people would be at the rink because it was Minor Hockey Weekend,” she said. “But with so much cancelled, there wasn’t traffic like we expected.”
“In a non-COVID year the rink would have been packed. COVID canceled a lot of games, and the weekend didn’t go according to plan from that perspective. I was really wanting to showcase this level of sledge hockey as it may have been the only time we could play here. That said, We did have spectators, and that’s good. We’re really just excited to continue to grow, get out there, and we can only get bigger.”
With COVID-19 worries looming for events planning, Lyons says the road to getting organized was one marked by patience and some luck.
“This was a hard thing to set up, especially with trying to get ice time in the city. We’re currently practicing in Aberdeen on February 19 to get ready to play against the Women’s Canadian Team on February 25 and 26 in Saskatoon,” she said.
The team is getting ready to work on positioning, among other things.
“There was just a really great atmosphere on-and-off the ice, and it was a wonderful teaching weekend,” she said.
“Most had never played full contact, and this is great preparation to go against provinces we’d never met, who won’t go as easy on us.”
One of the team’s goaltenders and Kindersley resident Jordan Graham had an amazing experience away despite a setback.
“It was a decent time away, despite breaking my hand. I caught the puck wrong stopping a shot, and shattered my pinky,” he said.
“I just have to stay off it for a month. I wanted to go into the second game, and no one let me.”
He ‘s one of seven Kindersley players on the team, as Braden Close, Ty Eagles, Nick Elliott, Matthew Kehrer, Bret Klassen and Kris Lyons are also from town. Graham says it was a great experience for the whole team to go through.
“It was our first actual experience playing as a unit. It was a great learning curve for us,” he said. “We may not have won the games, but we know what we need to work on for Nationals.”
“This is a rare experience, and I can’t wait to see what happens with this later in the year.”
For Graham, he wants folks to begin to get more involved and learn about the sport he loves so much.
“I think it’s important because people need to know sledge hockey is out there. I didn’t know it was a thing until my friend Hunter told me,” he said.
“It’s a great experience, and we need more numbers. So many places would want teams if they had the people. This was the first game I played against people of that level, and it was so unexpected. It was a big jump, but it was so eventful.”
Lyons is now focused on the future, and finding more incredible opportunities for the team as things roll on.
“The team is now all looking for sponsors and they are doing a great job as one day of ice time in Saskatoon for practice is just over $1,000. The coaches are looking after all of the on-ice stuff and making sure our players are learning what they need to learn so we succeed,” she said.
She’s also gone the extra mile and asked Women’s Canadian Sledge Hockey coaches Derek Whitson and Tara Chisholm to help with try-outs.
“We have all put in a real team effort to keep this going and to make it to the 2022 Canadian Championships in Leduc, AB. Everyone is just really committed.”
Photos by Kate Winquist, click for larger images
