Tournament honors local personality
In an event hosted by the McMillen Ice Arena (MAC) and Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation, Indiana's first sled hockey team gathered to announce the name of their first tournament. The Turnstone Flyers named Indiana's first sled hockey tournament for area celebrity Bob Chase, who has been a fixture for the past 50+ years with the hockey community.
“When we discussed naming this tournament, the first and only person we discussed was Bob Chase,” said Chuck Reddinger, Supervisor of Programming at the MAC. “We wanted to honor Bob for his many years of service to the Komets Hockey team and the hockey community, and what better way than to name a tournament for him?”
Bob Chase enthusiastically gave his support for the new sled hockey team and their upcoming tournament. “This is a great honor to be associated with this inclusive sport,” he said. “This is a great hockey town, and sled hockey broadens opportunities and opens the door for people who weren't able to play in the past.”
The sled hockey movement has taken off quickly in Fort Wayne. It began about one year ago, when new resident Randy Kwapis approached officials at the Ice Arena to see if they would consider bringing sled hockey to the City. Randy's son Matt is a disabled athlete and played this adaptive sport in Detroit. Kwapis provided a number of sleds that he manufactured, and play time was set aside for interested athletes.
The sport of sled hockey has been eagerly embraced by officials at the MAC, Fort Wayne Youth Hockey, Turnstone and the League for the Blind and Disabled. These organizations have been involved in building community support to make this program a success. Over the past six months, 15 sleds have been donated to the program and funders are coming forward to help continue the tournament.
For those familiar with wheelchair basketball and tennis, sled hockey is similar in that it is a great sport for youth and adults, and men and women. Sled hockey got its start in Sweden during the 1960's when two men with disabilities wanted to continue playing hockey. The equipment hasn't changed much since then ' players sit in sleds with two blades on the bottom. They propel and maneuver themselves with two short hockey sticks, curved on one end with short ice picks on the other end. For more information visit www.mcmillenicearena.org or call the Ice Arena at 427-6769.