The PEI Ice Breakers traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida last weekend to participate in the South Florida Sledge Hockey Invitational.  This was the first international tournament for the Ice Breakers and it a successful one!   To ensure the team had a complete roster, the team picked up a few players from NB and NS.   The PEI Ice Breakers were undefeated winning all three round robin games and then faced off against the home team, the Tiger Sharks,  to win the gold medal.  The final game scores were the following:

Vs. Tiger Sharks- 4-0

Vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 8-0

Vs. Space Coast 3-1

Gold Medal Game vs. Tigers Sharks 2-1

Coach/Manger, Eric Payne said the team had a great experience.  “The team played well together and the hockey was great, it was really fast hockey!”.   Payne hopes that the team can attend this invitational again next year to defend their title.

For more information on the PEI Ice Breakers Sledge Hockey Program, please contact the ParaSport and Recreation PEI office.

Photo:  PEI Ice Breakers and the Tiger Sharks- Gold Medal Game

ParaSport and Recreation PEI is offering a free Wheelchair Basketball Junior Program for youth between the ages of 7-16. The program runs every Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 pm until the end of March at Sherwood Elementary School gymnasium.

The goal of the program is to educate participants on the basic skills of wheelchair basketball through a variety of drills and activities. Janika Reddick, former Holland College Hurricane basketball player coaches the program. Wheelchair basketball is a sport for people with a physical disability, however, youth of all abilities are invited to come out! Drop-ins are also welcome.

This initiative is made possible through financial contributions from the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Government of Canada.

If you are looking for further information regarding the Wheelchair Basketball Junior Program, please contact the ParaSport and Recreation PEI office at 902-368-4540 or info@parasportpei.ca.

From left to right; Liam Kelly, Simone Farish (volunteer), Janika Reddick (coach), Spencer Keenan and Maria Walsh (volunteer)

PEI Ice Breakers Sledge Hockey team will be traveling to Fort Lauderdale for their first International Sledge Hockey tournament, the South Florida Sled Invitational from February 24-26, 2017. The 4 team tournament will be made up of teams from Florida, the Space Coast Hurricanes, Rockledge, FL, the Tampa Bay Lighting, Tampa Bay, FL and Tiger Sharks Lake Worth, FL and the PEI Ice Breakers.

The PEI Ice Breakers have been the top of the Maritime teams for the last three years. The team currently has 10 players, but for this event, they have recruited players from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to add an extra line to their roster.  One of those players includes 14 year old Jacob Leblanc from Moncton, NB who is a prospect for the Canadian National Sledge Hockey Team.

Eric Payne, the team manager, would like Islanders to know that there is a great deal of passion and growth in this sport on PEI and in Canada. “The team has matured over these past few seasons.  We are now in a place where we can entertain these types of opportunities and be competitive”, says Payne.  “There are similar opportunities in sledge hockey as there are with any other amateur sport. Participating in the South Florida Sled Invitational is an example of this”.

The PEI Ice Breakers Sledge Hockey Program was created in 2009 following the 2008 & 2009 World Sledge Hockey Challenge that were held in Charlottetown.  The legacy fund that was created from hosting the two events was used to purchase sleds and to promote the sport Island wide.  The Ice Breakers play out of the South Shore Actiplex in Crapaud.  The team is co-ed and the majority of the players do have a physical disability which is the priority; however those who do not have a disability are encouraged to participate.

Other teams in the Maritimes are Cape Breton, Halifax and Berwick, Nova Scotia. Three tournaments are held regionally. The PEI Ice Breakers have made two appearances and the London Ontario Blizzard Hockey tournament in the last 6 years.

If you are looking for further information regarding the PEI Ice Breakers Sledge Hockey Program, please contact the ParaSport and Recreation PEI office at 902-368-4540 or info@parasportpei.ca.

The ParaSport and Recreation PEI annual fundraising campaign came to and end on December 9th.  The 3 month long campaign included selling tickets to Island homes and businesses for a  $3000 Christmas Shopping Spree grand prize!  We are pleased to announce the winners for 2016…

1st Place, $3000 Christmas Shopping Spree Winner:  Bill Hogan, Charlottetown

2nd Place, $1000 Cash Winner:  Lori Fitzpatrick, Souris

3rd Place, Christmas Basket (valued over $600):  Alan Bentley, Charlottetown

This year’s campaign raised over $65,000 for sport and recreation opportunities for Islanders with a physical disability.  We would like to thank everyone that supported this campaign.  We would not be able to  provide all of the programs that we do without your support!

ParaSport and Recreation PEI Treasurer, Bob Kenny and Executive Director of Sport PEI, Gemma Koughan showing the three lucky tickets drawn on December 9th, 2016.

Ticket campaign launched today. (Left to Right) – Billy Bridges and Adam Dixon members of Team Canada, City of Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee and Richard Pettipas, President ParaSport and Recreation PEI.

Ticket Packages Now Available

CALGARY, Alta. – Two members of Canada’s National Sledge Team, P.E.I.-native Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) and Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.), started the countdown to the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge by joining local organizers to officially launch ticket sales for this year’s event, taking place Dec. 4-10 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.