Grand Rapids Griffins | Sled Hockey Game Returns February 8th

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Reviving one of the most unique events involving a professional sports team, the Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Sled Wings will play their 16th annual Sled Hockey Game presented by Meijer on Wednesday, February 8th at 6pm at the Griffs IceHouse at Belknap Park ( 30 Coldbrook St. NE).

Doors open at 5 p.m. Before the game, fans can try the sled on the ice with a minimum donation of $1 (5-5:50 p.m.) and get autographs from their favorite Griffins players (5:20-5:50 p.m.). p.m.). The game consists of two 20-minute periods with a running clock.

Opposing sled hockey teams have a mix of players from both Griffins and Sled Wings juniors. In the second episode, local media personalities also join the fun by taking turns on the ice.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5 per person or $20 per family. Children two and under are free, and donations are welcome.

Junior Sled Wings, a talented team of physically challenged children and youth, is sponsored by Griffins Youth Foundation in association with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. They became the first junior sledge hockey team in Michigan since their founding in 2001 and have achieved national prominence by winning several prestigious tournaments and developing six players to the US National Teams. The Sled Wings won their second national championship in 2022 and have been ranked as the national runner-up for four times, while goaltender Taggart VanderMolen has been a member of the US National Development Team since 2018, becoming the youngest netminder ever named to the team at age 15.

The 16th Annual Griffins & Sled Wings Sled Hockey Game is organized by Meijer and sponsored by Acrisure, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports and Smallegan Real Estate.

The rules of sledge hockey are practically the same as in traditional ice hockey, except that the participants sit in ice sleds. Players use shortened hockey sticks with a blade on one end and a blade on the other end (similar to a figure skater’s toe stick) to propel themselves across the ice. Like traditional hockey, sled hockey has plenty of checking, penalty shots and hard shots.