Missoula sled hockey program invites community onto the ice

Missoula, Mont. — A sled hockey program at Glacier Ice Rink is inviting people to get on the ice as an unusual winter in the Treasure State gave some residents different ways to stay active.

At the rink in Missoula, MARS athletes took part in sled hockey and welcomed others to try it as spring approached and hockey playoffs continued.

Mike Manhardt, a MARS board member, said the sport was open to more than just athletes with disabilities.

“The experience is that you don't have to be disabled to play sled hockey, but it's allows people with disabilities to play and it makes an equal playing. It makes it a kind of a level playing field, as you would say. Right. When everybody's strapped in and sled, we're all the same,” said Mike Manhardt.

The group said it wanted to grow the program beyond Missoula and build more sled hockey opportunities around the state in the coming years.

Ana Bruning, president of MARS, explained that the organization wanted to expand adaptive sports but needed more fundraising for equipment. [Link to MARS organization]

“Mars wants to do all the sports and we will eventually. We just need to fundraise for more adaptive equipment. We definitely want to expand, especially our sled hockey program, and we want to get other sled hockey teams around the state involved. So in May, we're actually having a jamboree. And so we're going to invite people from Whitefish and Bozeman and in Great Falls and Billings to come play sled hockey against us as well, just to get a bigger social atmosphere for sled hockey to,” said Ana Bruning.

The program welcomed anyone interested in trying sled hockey, including people with disabilities and those who simply wanted to learn how to skate in a sled.

MARS invited the community to join sessions on March 25, April 1 and April 8 at no cost.