January 08, 2006: The Portland Sled Hockey Pirates more than had their hands full Sunday morning when they were defeated 4-0 by the Pennsylvania CenterPedes in a rematch of a game that the Bugs won 4 to 1 last year. Earlier in the year the two teams had skated to a 1-1 tie in Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League competition.

"You have to give the Bugs all due credit," said Maine Coach, Craig Gray. "Pennsylvania out skated us in all aspects of the game.  They are a well-coached team and they get better every time they take the ice."  The Bugs are a young team overall with many players still in their mid teens and have veteran leadership from former US Team members Jim Leatherman and Mike Doyle. Despite their young age the Bugs are already one of the more experienced teams in the country. They have been skating and playing in the well-developed mid-Atlantic junior sled hockey programs for several years.  In fact, three young players from the CenterPedes have been selected to play for the US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team in the upcoming Paralympics.

The Pirates look forward to their next meeting with the Bugs, which is scheduled for February 19th in PNESHL League play. Game photos courtesy of Karen Moore.

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.