Sledge Hockey local hopefuls

Hockey Canada will unveil the 2014 Men’s Paralympic Sledge Hockey team this weekend. We caught-up with a handful of local players who are expected to make the trip to Sochi this March.

For the paralympic athletes, training for Sochi is a full-time job. Five days a week, they are in the gym, and on the ice. This will be Dundas native Kevin Repel’s first Paralympic experience, and he says their preparation is vital if they want to be in medal contention: “I think we’re doing the same things, but the frequency and intensity is a lot greater this year.”

After having been kept off the podium in Vancouver four years ago, the Canadian Men’s Sledge Hockey team is determined not let that happen in Sochi. Defenseman, Derek Whitson from Chatham, was part of the 2010 team, and says plenty has changed since then: “How fast it’s gotten in the last four years. I mean, I look back at Vancouver and I thought it was fast then, but it’s nowhere near the speed it is now, and to even look back 8 years ago in Torino when we won, it’s night and day.”

Canada will enter the winter games as the reigning world champions, but there is plenty of competition. Between a bitter rivalry with the Americans, and the hometown advantage held by the Russians, they know they have their work cut-out for them.

Kevin says: “I think our structure of play really helps us excel. Just following a set pattern when it comes to breakout, or fore checking or power play. That’s what I’m proud of. The execution as a real able-bodied style of play. Regardless of the outcome, not many people get a chance to do this and it may be my only chance, so I just want to enjoy the moment and try my best to bring Canada a gold medal.”

The Men’s Paralympic Hockey Tournament runs from March 8th to the 15th.

Kevin is 31-years old, and while he currently lives in Dundas, we’ll give a shout out to Grimsby because that’s where he grew up. He suffered a spinal cord injury in 2006 while riding motocross.