| COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The 2012-13 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team is in Williamsville, N.Y., this weekend (Thurs, Feb. 28-Sat., March 2) for the first of two training camps at Northtown Center at Amherst over the next month. Team USA is preparing to defend its 2012 world title at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee World Championship April 12-20 in Goyang City, Korea.
The 2012-13 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team has won 10 of its 12 international games this season en route to a pair of tournament championships. In December, Team USA captured the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Calgary, Alta. The U.S. avenged a preliminary round loss to Canada by beating the tournament host in the championship game. In January, the U.S. held the USA Hockey Sled Cup in Indian Trail, N.C., and won each of its four games, including a pair of victories against Korea. Most recently, the U.S. posted two wins in three games against Canada Feb. 14-16 in Rockland, Ont.
Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.), former men’s ice hockey head coach at Colorado College and the University of Wisconsin, is the second-year head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. The assistant coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team is Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.), who is also in his second season.
The training camp also includes the 2012-13 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. The schedule for the camp is below.
| Date |
Event |
Time |
| Thurs., Feb. 28 |
Combined Practice |
4:00-5:30 p.m. |
| Fri., March 1 |
National Team Practice |
9:30-10:45 a.m. |
| Fri., March 1 |
Developmental Team Practice |
9:30-10:45 a.m. |
| Fri., March 1 |
Game – Teams Mixed |
3:30-5:50 p.m. |
| Sat., March 2 |
National Team Practice |
9:00-10:00 a.m. |
| Sat., March 2 |
Developmental Team Practice |
9:30-10:30 a.m. |
| Sat., March 2 |
Game – Teams Mixed |
4:00-6:20 p.m. |
NOTES: Jeff Sauer was named head coach of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team on Feb. 14, 2013 … The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia, will be chosen this summer … Team USA has won the last three major international events, including the 2009 IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic; the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver, B.C.; and the 2012 IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship in Hamar, Norway … Eight members of the 2012-13 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team helped the United States win the gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Games … Dan Brennan is the general manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. |
