OSHA Leads Russian Sledge Hockey Development

From November 3 to 10, 2009, OSHA played host to four travelers from Russia here to study sledge hockey in Canada. This follows a project started this past summer when Todd Sargeant and Sigmund Bernat of the London Blizzard Sledge Hockey team travelled overseas to introduce sledge hockey to Russia. The project was conducted through the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), a volunteer-based group that is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.

Before July there was no sledge hockey in Russia. Since they are hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, there is now a concerted effort underway to become competitive on the international stage. The project was based in Izhevsk, approximately 1200 km east of Moscow and was made up of a number of components.

First, Sargeant and Bernat coordinated efforts to organize sledge hockey locally in Izhevsk. They took over the first sledge equipment into the country and conducted training sessions both on and off the ice with local disabled athletes.

Secondly, time was spent working to put into place regional and national plans to develop sledge hockey. Meetings were held with the Paralympic Committee of Udmurt Republic and the Russian Paralympic Committee, with recommendations being made for the development of sledge hockey in Russia.

The four sledge officials from Russia are were in London for three days where they were introduced to London’s Board of Control, attended a Blizzard sledge practice, attended an off-ice training session at the University of Western Ontario and met with leaders of London's Russian community. The second leg of the trip was spent in Brampton at the Cruisers Cup Sledge Hockey Tournament. There they also met up with tournament organizers and Unique Inventions’ Laurie Howlett, Canada’s leading manufacturer of sledge equipment.

The purpose of their visit was to learn more of Canadian sledge hockey at the local and provincial levels through the Ontario Sledge Hockey Association. Used sledges were also donated by OSHA clubs in Chatham, Windsor, London and Mississauga, as well as a new one from Unique.

This trip was very successful and paves the way for future cooperation between Canada and Russia to help sledge hockey develop. A little sight-seeing in Niagara Falls and downtown Toronto helped make this trip very memorable for our sledge friends.

For further information, please contact Sigmund ([email protected]) or Todd ([email protected]).