Sledge hockey in Waterford

South Coast Special Needs sledge hockey team’s annual exhibition game against the West Region/Norfolk OPP took place in Waterford this year.

Brenda Moser

Advocate Contributor

OPP, South Coast Special Needs meet in annual sledge hockey exhibition

Canada is all about their sports and some would say that there are two main seasons – baseball and hockey.

I have spent a great deal of time over the years in arenas with my own children and grandchildren involved in hockey, so I was quite interested when I got word of a very special sledge hockey game being hosted right here in Waterford.

On March 8, it was a packed house and parking lot at Waterford’s Tricenturena as the South Coast Special Needs sledge hockey team took on the Norfolk OPP for what would prove to be a nailbiter from start to finish. The OPP were in for a wild ride!

Admission to the exhibition sledge hockey game was a donation of canned goods and it didn’t take long for the arena lobby to become quite full! In lieu of a food donation, they were also accepting monetary donations. At the end of the afternoon, it was obvious the day was a huge success. They were able to fill a car with food, which this year was donated to the Waterford Food Bank. They also collected about $700 in cash donations that will go to South Coast Special Needs for the purchase of equipment such as sticks, sledges and jerseys.

There are 19 players on the South Coast Special Needs sledge hockey team, males and females, all ages. Each player has a volunteer sledge ‘pusher.’

OPP Constable Jeremy Renton, event organizer, has been involved with the program for several years now.

“I got started as a (sledge) pusher with a friend of mine who was an athlete with South Coast Special Needs. I enjoyed going to hockey every Sunday, so I eventually decided to stay on as a coach. I also coach floor hockey at the SCS gymnasium. It ends its season with an exhibition game versus the OPP, on April 14th.

Renton appreciates the support the sledge hockey program gets throughout the year.

“We play all season for about 16 to 18 ice times and they love it! Each player has a ‘pusher’ and that’s not an easy job. The sledges are not easy to steer or stop.  It gets very intense at times,” Renton added.

Speedy Auto Glass has sponsored the trophies for the last 17 years. Each player gets their own trophy with a large one going to the winner and it was no surprise the Special Needs team won it yet again. That’s 17 years now that they’ve won it! In spite of the score being tied for a short time at 4-4, the OPP would eventually be edged 9-5. Way to go South Coast Special Needs!

While the nailbiting game was going on, fellow officers mingled with the crowd to chat. They even had their new OPP truck to check out and the athletes loved it… as did the rest of the crowd.

“I want to say thank you to all of the spectators for coming out every year to support us. 

This is the only game we play with spectators and this year there were about 200 people out. I can’t thank the community enough for all of their support of this event! For the kids… this is their Stanley Cup of the year.”

With sledge hockey now done, Renton will turn his time to the upcoming baseball season. 

A huge thanks goes to all of the OPP and community volunteers who give their time to put smiles on the faces of these athletes.