COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2017-18 season schedule for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team was announced today by USA Hockey. The schedule, which begins this weekend (Sept. 28-Oct. 1) with a training camp in Columbus, Ohio, will include a trio of international competitions before culminating in the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, March 8-18.
The training camp this weekend will also include the 2017 Disabled Hockey Workshop, where new and existing program administrators, board members, coaches and volunteers from around the country will come together for a weekend of educational sessions and networking. All Team USA ice times will take place at the Ice Haus, the practice facility of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
Following training camps in Indian Trail, N.C. (Oct. 12-15) and Madison, Wis. (Nov. 2-5), Team USA will open international play Dec. 1-10 at the 2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I. The U.S. will be seeking its fourth-straight title in the four-team event.
Next, the U.S. will begin its residency program in Chicago before traveling to Turin, Italy, for the Turin 2018 Para Ice Hockey International Tournament from Jan. 22-27. The team will return to Chicago, Ill. from Jan. 29-Feb. 6 in preparation of its Border Series vs. Canada from Feb. 7-11 in Buffalo, New York and Pt. Colborne, Ontario.
Team USA will then travel back to Chicago from Feb. 12-March 1 and is set to arrive in PyeongChang, South Korea on March 2 ahead of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games from March 8-18.
NOTES: Labatt USA is a proud sponsor of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey’s director of sled hockey, is serving as general manager … Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.), who led Team USA to a silver medal at the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship in Gangneung, South Korea, will serve as head coach of the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. Joining Gosselin behind the bench is assistant coach David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.) while additional staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.) … The 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team will be announced later this year.
Schedule:
Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2017 Training Camp Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 12-15, 2017 Training Camp Indian Trail, N.C.
Nov. 2-5, 2017 Training Camp Madison, Wis.
Dec. 1-10, 2017 2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Jan. 22-27, 2018 2018 Para Ice Hockey International Tournament Turin, Italy
Feb. 7-11, 2018 2018 Border Series Buffalo, N.Y. & Pt. Colborne, Ont.
March 8-18, 2018 2018 Paralympic Games PyeongChang, South Korea
