Melanie Brimner's dream of making Canada's favourite game accessible to her son has grown to include participants of all ages and physical abilities from throughout the province, as the Wawota Sledge Hockey Tournament entered its third year, held in Wawota on Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 3.
“I wanted to do this for my son, Blake (Lamontagne),” says Brimner, who founded the event in 2014. “He was in a car accident seven years ago and I wanted to see him play and I wanted to see my boys (Blake, 25 and Blaine, 21) play hockey together. There are a few guys here in Wawota that have cerebral palsy and they've never had the chance to play hockey, either.”
“This is just a good way to get people on the ice who've never had the chance to play Canada's game.”
The tournament has since grown to include players from 10-to 65-years-old from throughout the province and has also become a successful fundraiser, with contributions aiding the Wawota Community forum, STARS Air Ambulance and the Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association. This year's SWSA contribution will be made in memory of wheelchair athlete, Chris Pearson, who passed away in December 2015.
“We've had a lot of interest,” says Brimner. “And it just keeps growing. We have had teams from Regina, Saskatoon Winnipeg and Brandon, as well as teams from throughout our local area.”
“On Friday night, it's our fun night. Anyone who wants to come out and give sledge hockey a try is welcome to come out. At first, not many people knew what sledge hockey was. But basically, the sledge is like a chair you use on the ice.”
Teams are made up of four players, including a goalie. The game's ice surface is equal to half of the Forum's full ice surface, allowing two games to be played simultaneously. The sledges and sticks are provided by Regina sledge hockey team, The Avengers.
“Everybody really gets into the game,” says Brimner. “But they also really have a lot of fun out on the ice.”
“We have a trophy that looks like a cross between the Stanley Cup and the Grey Cup and that's no coincidence. Precision Ag donated our Pearson/Gerein Cup and Joel Carpenter (of Precision Ag) told us that's exactly what he intended. The trophy is named after Blake's friend, Chris Pearson, who passed away in December with a brain tumour and a gold medal Paralympic wheelchair athlete, Clayton Gerein. Both of them were instrumental in getting kids into wheelchair sports.”
This year's winning team members were Nathan Day, Devin Himpe, Bob Lamontagne and Craig Thomas.
“I'm so proud of everyone who gets involved,” adds Brimner. “I'd like to send a big thank you out to everyone who has supported us, volunteered with us, played, watched and just helped to raise awareness. I can't even begin to explain what this weekend means to me and what it means to have so much support.”
“Hats off to everyone who helped make this another very successful Sledge Hockey Weekend.”
