COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today a pair of benefit games between the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and 2017-18 U.S. Development Sled Hockey Team that will take place Feb. 23-24 at West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. In addition, with the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team training in Chicago ahead of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, members of Team USA will attend the Chicago Blackhawks game against the Anaheim Ducks at the United Center this Thursday (Feb. 15).
The benefit games, both set for 8 p.m. ET faceoffs, will have tickets on sale for $5 while kids under six will receive free admission. Tickets are available for purchase at West Meadows Ice Arena. All game proceeds will go towards the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team to help cover the cost of their families attending the Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Individuals interested in donating to the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team can do so here or by contacting Tamara Tranter at The USA Hockey Foundation via phone at 719.538.1164.
Team USA To Attend Blackhawks Game on ‘Hockey Is For Everyone’ Night
Tomorrow (Feb. 15), members of the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team will attend the Chicago Blackhawks game against the Anaheim Ducks as part of the Blackhawks Hockey Is For Everyone night. Five members of the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, including Illinois natives Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.), Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.) and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.), skate for the Chicago Blackhawks Sled Hockey Team that claimed the 2017 USA Hockey Sled Classic, presented by the NHL, and will compete in the 2018 Toyota-USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Festival this coming April.
U.S. captain Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.), who was named an official ambassador of the campaign on Feb. 1, 2018, told NHL.com, “I believe that the Hockey Is For Everyone initiative is important each year because many people, especially at a young age, are not usually comfortable pushing for inclusion. With the NHL and its partners putting it out there that everyone is welcome in the sport of hockey, it opens the door for people of different backgrounds to feel a part of a family that they may not have had in the past or in any other setting.”
About the Chicago Residency Program
On Jan. 6, 2018, players and staff for the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team relocated to Chicago, where it is conducting daily practices at West Meadows Ice Arena in preparation for the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Media interested in attending practices or speaking with players and staff should contact Jon Gomez, media contact for the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, via phone (office: 719.538.1176; cell: 973.723.5744) or email ([email protected]).
The United States, which this past weekend split its home-and-home 2018 Border Series against Canada, finished the 2017-18 regular-season campaign 11-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) while claiming both the 2018 Turin Para Ice Hockey International Tournament in Turin, Italy, last month and the 2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I., last December.
The 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team is set to arrive in PyeongChang, South Korea, for the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games on March 3. Preliminary round play starts March 11 while the medal round is scheduled for March 17-18.
2018 Paralympic Winter Games
Team USA Schedule – PyeongChang, South Korea – Gangneung Hockey Centre – March 8-18
Date Opponent Round Time (Local/ET)
Sun., March 11 Japan Preliminary 12:00 p.m./10:00 p.m. (March 10)
Mon., March 12 Czech Republic Preliminary 12:00 p.m./10:00 p.m. (March 11)
Tues., March 13 Korea Preliminary 12:10 p.m./10:10 p.m. (March 12)
Thurs., March 15 TBD Semifinal TBD
Sat., March 17 TBD Bronze-Medal Game 12:00 p.m./10:00 p.m. (March 16)
Sun., March 18 TBD Gold-Medal Game 12:00 p.m./10:00 p.m. (March 17)
Notes: Deloitte, Labatt USA and Toyota are proud sponsors of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … The 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team was announced on Jan. 1, 2018, and can be seen here. Highlighting the roster is captain Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.); alternate captains Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) and Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.); and goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) … A year ago, Team USA earned a silver medal at the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship in Gangneung, South Korea, following a run of six-straight major international titles that started with a gold medal win at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia … Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team … Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.), a two-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992) and a regional manager for USA Hockey’s American Development Model, is head coach of the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. Joining Gosselin behind the bench is assistant coach David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.) while additional U.S. staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Scott Aldrich (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
