A cozy group of 13 skaters in Everett, Massachusetts, took in the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team’s opening game at the Paralympics on March 7, a 14-1 triumph over host Italy.

After that, they hit the ice for a 90-minute clinic.

In a day full of highlights, there was a moment that stuck with Elizabeth Dahlen, who organized the session.

One participant, who’s a below-knee amputee, got into a sled for the first time with the help of an above-knee amputee who was a few years older.

“They were sticking together, skating around, getting to learn the ropes,” Dahlen said. “Definitely one of one of those bright spots for me.”

Dahlen is the Cape Cod’s program manager and network programs manager for Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers, which is aligned with the Mass General Brigham health care system. Spaulding provided the equipment to those needing it for the Try Hockey For Free, presented by Discover, event at Allied Veterans Skating Rink, which is the home rink for Spaulding’s sled teams.

Spaulding has recreational and competitive teams, with some traveling across the country to national tournaments.

“It’s really unique because we’re able to offer a program that can meet each individual player where they’re at,” Dahlen said. “We also then have those competitive opportunities for those players that really want to take it to the next level and have the ability then to tweak those practices and to tweak those events.”

Of the 13 players at the Try Hockey For Free clinic, seven were playing sled hockey for the first time.

“They did fantastic,” Dahlen said. “We did a mix of different drills, some full-ice scrimmaging, some cross-ice scrimmaging. Just the enthusiasm was contagious. Everyone had the biggest smiles, really enjoying the day and just the different levels of play also.”

There was also a nice mix of boys and girls at the event.

“[I] was really happy with the turnout and the enthusiasm for the kids and just how much that they were enjoying everything that was happening,” Dahlen said.

The parents in attendance were incredibly enthusiastic, Dahlen added.

At one point, players on the ice kept trying to set up one girl to score on a mini net that was set up near the boards where many of the parents were watching their kids. She kept missing because the target was so small.

“The second she scored, they all started banging on the glass, cheering them on,” Dahlen said. “Almost as if they had just won gold. The enthusiasm from the parents getting to see their kids playing was great.”

Dahlen is hoping that the newcomers will join the recreational league as they get more accustomed to sled hockey. But this day was about the experience of being in a sled for the first time and learning about the sport’s potential.

“One of the other highlights of that day was we had a young boy who came and it was his first time ever in a sled,” Dahlen said. “We were able to get him in his sled, put a push bar on him to help support him along and we kept kind of checking in with mom because he was definitely the youngest one we had on the ice [6 years old]. And we were like, ‘How you doing, pal? You staying warm enough? Are you having fun?’ And every time we kind of went over and checked in, he just kept saying, ‘More, more. I want more. I want to go fast.’

“Just to see his excitement and enthusiasm, to have never been in the sled or tried hockey … is always fantastic when you can just spread that awareness and just get more kids into the sleds and on the ice.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.