This weekend, hockey teams from around the western United States are in Reno for a sled hockey tournament.
The Reno Rumble Sled Hockey Tournament lets people with disabilities continue to enjoy the ice.
April Wolfe is one of the players and helps organize adaptive programs like this one for the City of Reno. She said sled hockey levels the playing field unlike any other sport.
“Once we're all seated, it's an equal playing field,” Wolfe said. “So, I think that's unique to the sport. And it really, you know, makes no difference if you have a disability or not. Once you're on the ice, we just all play together."
Each team can have up to three able-bodied players on a team.
“It's super cool to have an even playing field for able-bodied and disabled athletes to compete,” said Adrian Nicholas, Head Coach, Reno Ice Sled Hockey. “Honestly, it's a lot of fun because the contact’s there, you know, the skill is there.”
Wolfe recruited Trevor Scott to play for Reno's only sled hockey team a few years ago. For Scott, there’s no other sport quite like it.
"I've tried a number of other sports. basketball, pickleball, sit ski,” Scott said. “There's nothing like sled hockey. Just getting out there, the camaraderie. Nothing gets me a better workout than getting out there on the ice and giving it my all."
Daniel Bell started out playing roller hockey before he lost his legs in a car accident. Utah Sled Hockey’s goalie David Nicholls recruited Bell while he was recovering in the hospital. Bell said it's great to be back on the ice fighting for the puck, even if doing it on a sled took some getting used to.
“You're moving with the same arms that you're puck handling with. It's kind of like rubbing your belly and patting your head in opposite directions at the same time,” Bell said. “Once you get the hang of it, it's just like anything else."
Even though Reno Ice lost in the semifinal round to Utah, Scott said it's all worth it to get on the ice with some of his best friends.
“We're getting better every time. We played some tough teams today. But we made them work for it, and that's the most important thing,” he said."
Reno Ice Sled Hockey is raising money to cover travel costs to the USA Hockey 2026 Sled National Championships next month in Dallas. You can support the team by buying tickets to their exhibition at the Tahoe Knight Monsters game on Saturday, April 4th, in Stateline.
Sled hockey teams from across the west come to Reno for the annual tournament.
