THUNDER BAY -- Robbi Weldon is going to stick to being a two-sport star.
But that didn’t stop the two-time Paralympic athlete from trying her hand Wednesday at sledge hockey, a sport that got a $25,000 boost locally thanks to RBC’s Play Hockey Grant.
Weldon, who won a gold medal in tandem cycling at this year’s London Paralympic Games, said sports for disabled athletes are growing rapidly around the world and it’s important to get as many potential athletes out, regardless of age or skill level.
“These opportunities are growing, and as much as we can get the awareness and education out there to families and their children that there are opportunities in sport, whether it’s sledge hockey or other winter sports, Thunder Bay is a great community to support that,” Weldon said.
“We’re all very supportive and excited to get people out, young and old, with physical disabilities to be able to perform in activities such as sledge hockey.”
Weldon, donning a Team Canada hockey jersey sent to her by Hockey Canada’s Bob Nicholson after she won gold in London, joined local athletes and Lakehead Thunderwolves players Luke Judson, Mike Quesnele, Luke Maw and Mike Hammond on the Fort William Gardens ice for a brief sledge hockey demonstration before speaking to media.
Sport means a lot to most people, she said, especially those with disabilities as it adds to their social lives, overall health and fitness and just having fun.
“It’s also able to show children that they are able to do many activities, one being sledge hockey, and just because of their physical disability it doesn’t mean they can’t try something new and get out there and have fun with their friends and family.”
Darren Lillington of the Thunder Bay Accessible Sport Council, said his organization will use the money to train instructors and coaches in partnership with the Ontario Sledge Hockey Association.
It will also be used to buy equipment and pay for ice time and promote the game in Thunder Bay.
Lillington said the interest has been there to start a sledge hockey program, but the money wasn’t.
“So we applied to (RBC’s) program and we’re very excited we got chosen as a successful applicant,” Lillington said.
“The first thing we’re going to do is have a coaching clinic in January,” he added.
The interest happens to be community wide, Lillington said.
“It’s both people with disabilities and other people that might not be as comfortable skating on the ice, who can get involved in hockey from a seated position. We have had a number of trial sessions over the last number of years, so we’ve had quite a lot of people come out and try it,” he said.
To get involved with the January instruction training session, phone 344-3743 or email [email protected].
More information can be found at www.tbaccessiblesports.ca.
