March 1, 2007:  I would like to take the time to thank the people who have taken the time to provide me with another extremely enjoyable season of sled hockey. Having been on the organizational side before I know how hard it can be to stay focused on what’s important.

To me it is a well planned well executed and just plain fun club. Sure winning is fun, but for me winning isn’t enough to justify so much time away from home, long days in far away places. I  get all the excitement of the long weekend tournaments, packed into one Sunday a month. It isn’t the cut throat; win at all costs hockey that has been out there; it is not supposed to be. It is supposed to be a club level family and friend oriented hockey league. And it is. I hope it stays that way. Why fix something that isn’t broken?

One of my favorite things about this club is the mix of disabled and not so disabled. When I was first injured I knew no one else with an injury like mine. My friends were and most still are without injuries. That’s who I want to do things with. I would have loved to be able to participate in a club with the people I already like to do things with. It would have been so less scary and much easier to get out there if I could bring a friend along. No getting dropped off or spend time watching them watch me. There is nothing wrong with making new friends, I do that too, but when I was new I was reluctant to play disabled sports because I thought I didn’t fit in wasn’t welcome. As an amputee I thought disabled sports were for people who use wheelchairs. What a breath of fresh air to see a club openly welcoming all disabilities and those with none. Now if you want an exclusive disabled only club they already exist. They haven’t had the success of this one but they have been around a while. Better yet start your own get your own sponsors, don’t steal someone else’s.

This club was designed for everyone. It is such a success because of that. Why should it change if it’s working? It shouldn’t.

Thanks again to all who made this work. Hope it works next year too

Dan Sousa

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Maine Sled Hockey Program
255 Pine Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074
207-883-0420    207-885-5593 Fax
www.mainesledhockey.org
MaineSledHockey@maine.rr.com
Copyright © 2005, Maine Sled Hockey Program

Fast Facts: Sled hockey is one of the fastest growing disabled sports in the world with new sled hockey programs and sled hockey teams showing up everywhere. There are about 50 adult sled hockey teams and junior sled hockey teams in the USA. Sled hockey is played in several countries. Sweden claims to have originated sled hockey. The US Sled Hockey Team won the gold medal in the 2002 Paralympics. The Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League is the first organized adult sled hockey league in the USA. Sled hockey players are extremely committed to the sport of sled hockey and regularly teach sled hockey clinics and participate in sled hockey outreach events and sled hockey exhibitions. Anyone wishing to try sled hockey should have ample opportunities to play.