Skating can be tough when taking to the ice for the first time. So too can keeping a sledge balanced.

Grade 7 and 8 LVS students tested their sledge hockey skills for the first time at the BDO Centre earlier today. Teacher Stephanie Brown organized the event, inviting Bill Muloin from the Society for Manitobans with Disability Sledge hockey program to run a session teaching kids the basics of the sport, such as moving, turning and stopping the sledge.

Brown organized the event to provide an opportunity for a student with a disability at LVS to learn and compete in a sport with classmates. Unfortunately, the student was ill and missed today's session. But the rest of the students still got to enjoy a morning away from the classroom.

One of those students was Angel Gonzalez. He found moving on the sledge was much easier than expected.

“It was really fun, and easy, I was expecting it to be harder,” says the Grade 7 student, despite being involved in one major high-speed collision on the ice.

“I took down the teacher,” Angel chuckles. “I was going too fast and the teacher came too fast and we bumped into each other like trains.”

Muloin, who led the session, says sledge hockey in Manitoba has grown in popularity since the grassroots development program first began in 2007.

Bill Muloin, front left, from the Society for Manitobans with Disability Sledge hockey program, helped teach LVS students the basics March 16 at the BDO Centre. (photo by Matt Hermiz)

“I always try to illustrate it's a sport for anybody,” he says. “It is an adapted sport. But our mission is to try and pass the message that it's just a new sport and anybody can give it a try. And if they enjoy it, keep coming out to play.”

“I was really impressed with the kids today,” continues Muloin. “They found it as a challenge. But it was good. They were scooting around, playing and there were a lot of great smiles.”