RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina sled hockey athlete is representing Team USA at the Paralympic Games in Milan.
Kayden Beasley started playing sled hockey in 2019 and now he is on the world’s biggest rink.
What You Need To Know
The Paralympic Opening Ceremony will take place Friday
Kayden Beasley, a 19-year-old from North Carolina, will represent Team USA in Para Ice Hockey
He started playing sled hockey in 2019 and hopes to bring awareness to the sport
Team USA Para Ice Hockey will play its first preliminary round against Italy on Saturday at 11 a.m.
For 19-year-old Kayden Beasley, the love of hockey runs deep.
“I like the game before I started playing sled hockey, so it was an easy way to get into hockey game,” Beasley said at a news conference last week.
Kayden flying down the ice at a Hurricanes Sled Hockey practice in 2025. (Spectrum News 1)
The teen tried his hand at sled hockey for the first time only a few years ago but has quickly moved up the ranks. He was invited to join the US National Team last year and was named the US players of the game at the International Para Hockey Cup, helping secure USA’s semifinal win over Italy. Now, he is on the Team USA Paralympic team roster for Milan.
“You can just see he’s going after the play. He’s usually the first one to the puck and then can kind of dictate what happens next,” Hurricanes Sled Hockey co-coach Geoff Wing said.
Hurricanes Sled Hockey coaches Geoff Wing and Danny Morganelli, said they met Kayden when he was 12 and said his sense of the game of hockey make him a stand out player, but his ability to be a teammate is one of his best qualities.
Kayden and his brother Caleb at practice in 2025. (Spectrum News 1)
“There’s also a huge element of humility that’s built into Kayden. He has no arrogance about him. He’s very humble. He’s very much serving his team. He’s very much a teammate,” coach Danny Morganelli said.
Beasley was born without legs and was adopted by his parents at a young age from China. His brother Caleb, while not related by blood, was also adopted from the same province in China and followed in Beasley’s footsteps playing sled hockey.
“We’re elated and proud and proud of his family. As you’ve heard multiple times, proud of his family for all they’ve done to support him throughout this journey,” Wing said.
Beasley says he has seen the interest and competitiveness grow in sled hockey over the years and hopes by playing on the world’s biggest rink, he can bring more awareness to the sport.
The U.S. Para Ice Hockey team will play its first preliminary round against Italy on Saturday at 11 a.m.