22 August 2026 - Para Ice Hockey

Every now and then, Parasport Support gives extra attention and explanation to a sport that can be done by people with a physical or visual disability. Today, the focus is on:

Para Ice Hockey.

Para Ice Hockey is a team sport with 2 teams in action, played on ice and each team attempts to outscore its opponent by shooting the puck across the ice and into the opposing team's goal while preventing the opposing team from scoring. Six players (including the goalkeeper) from each team are on the ice at one time. 

The sport follows the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) with modifications. Instead of skates, players use double-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass beneath. Players use two sticks, which have a spike-end for pushing and a blade-end for shooting.

Sledge hockey, or Para Ice hockey as it is called now, was invented in the early 60’s in Sweden. In the 70’s and 80’s more countries were becoming interest in Sledge hockey and it became on the programme of the Winter Paralympics in 1994 (Lillehammer-Norway). With only 5 teams and just 1 team out of Europe,(Canada) the start was there. Sweden won gold, Norway Silver and the bronze match between Canada and Great Britain was won by Canada. Estonia finished fifth. In 2026 over 20 countries are having a national Para ice hockey team, including Australia. For that reason qualification tournaments most be organised now, so that the 8 qualified teams can compete at the Paralympic winter Games.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) acts as the international sanctioning body for the sport. On November 2016 the International Paralympic Committee announced that the name sledge hockey was changed in the name Para Ice Hockey.

Equipment

Person protection: Because of the physical nature of the game, all players are required to wear a helmet with a full cage or mask. The goalkeeper wears leg pads, large shoulder pads, a helmet with a cage, a catcher glove and blocker glove to protect the athlete from pucks flying up to 100 km/h.

Sledge: Made of aluminium or steel, sleds have a curved front and a seating area. The sled rests on two blades, which are usually made of hardened steel. The puck must be able to pass under the sled. The sled may be equipped with a backrest, but this must not extend sideways past the armpits when the player is seated properly. Straps secure the player's feet, ankles, knees, and hips to the sled.

Stick: In Para ice hockey, players use two sticks with a hooked blade at one end (for puck handling and ambidextrous shooting) and a pick at the other end. Each stick has a maximum length of 1m and is made of carbon fibre or fibreglass. The pick end of the stick must not damage the ice surface or inadvertently puncture or slash other players.

Puck: Made of vulcanised rubber or other approved material, the puck is 2.54cm thick, with a diameter of 7.62cm and weighs 156 to 170 grams.

Want to know more about Para Ice Hockey in Australia? Ms Lynda Holt is Head of Para Ice Hockey in Australia. You can contact Ice Hockey Australia by email para@iha.org.au