When and where do you practice?
Currently, practices are on Tuesdays. Ice time is at 8:00-9:00 PM at LA Kings Icetown Riverside (10540 Magnolia Ave. Suite A in Riverside). Athletes should be there at least ½ hour early to get gear on and
stretch. New athletes should consider getting there even earlier so they have time
to be fitted with equipment and gear. However, if you are new, it is always a
good idea to contact Todd at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com
to make sure practice days and times haven’t changed. Every once-in-a-while, we
take a Tuesday off (maybe once a year), but it would be Murphy’s Law for you to
show up on that one day and we’re not practicing. Contact us to confirm dates
and times.
What ages?
We currently have a youth team and an adults team. The youth
team starts at age 5. We have had athletes in their 50’s and 60’s play with us.
Most of our athletes on the adults team are in their 20’s and 30’s, but there’s
always room for the likes of you.
What Can I Expect At Practice?
If you are trying sled hockey for the first time, you should get to the rink in plenty of time so you have time to be fitted with gear and get the most out of your time on the ice. Currently, practices are on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM, so you should get there by 7:30 or even earlier. If you let us know you're coming, we can make sure we have volunteers at the rink early enough to help you as soon as you arrive. The rink has two sheets of ice, so ask the box office which sheet of ice sled hockey will be practicing on. You are looking for Todd or Christie (but if they aren't available that particular week or happen to be late or busy at the moment, many other sled hockey volunteers can help you out).
We waive the team fee for people's first practice, but we will ask you to sign a waiver to participate. If you are under 18, we will ask a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.
We have a limited supply of hockey gear, so if you don't have gear of your own, we will look through what we have to find the best possible fit. A helmet with a face cage, elbow pads, gloves, long pants, and closed toed shoes are absolutely required for you to get on the ice, even if you aren't planning to "get rough" out there. Typically, you will also want shin guards and shoulder pads to participate in scrimmages. We will also probably have to adjust your sled to the right leg length to accommodate you.
Then you hit the ice with the team.
Some new athletes get acclimated quickly and then jump right into team activities, and others prefer to have a quick tutorial and work on some initial skills first.
A typical practice consists of a warm-up period, several drills, and usually a short scrimmage at the end.
Depending on the week, of course, practices can vary from that formula, so don't be surprised if the practice consists of relay races instead, or if the scrimmage is at the beginning of practice. The highly qualified coaches work hard to design practices that will challenge athletes without frustrating them, all while keeping it fun.
There are also bleachers for family and friends to watch athletes on the ice (and some people prefer to stand around at ice level rather than sitting on the bleachers). It's a public ice rink, so anyone can come watch a practice and take pictures. The rink does have a snack bar and a pro shop, but we are not connected to them, so they may or may not be open during our practices. If the snack bar is not open, there are a few vending machines for snacks.
Come on out! You'll have fun!
If you are trying sled hockey for the first time, you should get to the rink in plenty of time so you have time to be fitted with gear and get the most out of your time on the ice. Currently, practices are on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM, so you should get there by 7:30 or even earlier. If you let us know you're coming, we can make sure we have volunteers at the rink early enough to help you as soon as you arrive. The rink has two sheets of ice, so ask the box office which sheet of ice sled hockey will be practicing on. You are looking for Todd or Christie (but if they aren't available that particular week or happen to be late or busy at the moment, many other sled hockey volunteers can help you out).
We waive the team fee for people's first practice, but we will ask you to sign a waiver to participate. If you are under 18, we will ask a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.
We have a limited supply of hockey gear, so if you don't have gear of your own, we will look through what we have to find the best possible fit. A helmet with a face cage, elbow pads, gloves, long pants, and closed toed shoes are absolutely required for you to get on the ice, even if you aren't planning to "get rough" out there. Typically, you will also want shin guards and shoulder pads to participate in scrimmages. We will also probably have to adjust your sled to the right leg length to accommodate you.
Then you hit the ice with the team.
Some new athletes get acclimated quickly and then jump right into team activities, and others prefer to have a quick tutorial and work on some initial skills first.
A typical practice consists of a warm-up period, several drills, and usually a short scrimmage at the end.
Depending on the week, of course, practices can vary from that formula, so don't be surprised if the practice consists of relay races instead, or if the scrimmage is at the beginning of practice. The highly qualified coaches work hard to design practices that will challenge athletes without frustrating them, all while keeping it fun.
There are also bleachers for family and friends to watch athletes on the ice (and some people prefer to stand around at ice level rather than sitting on the bleachers). It's a public ice rink, so anyone can come watch a practice and take pictures. The rink does have a snack bar and a pro shop, but we are not connected to them, so they may or may not be open during our practices. If the snack bar is not open, there are a few vending machines for snacks.
Come on out! You'll have fun!
Where and how often are your games?
This is a complicated question. There aren’t a lot of sled
hockey teams around the area, so our games are sporadic. We usually have
approximately 3-5 demo games in a year that are local to Southern California,
and we usually try to make it to 1-2 national tournaments. In addition, for the 2015-16 season, our adult players are helping to restart the Western Sled Hockey League along with Phoenix, and two Colorado teams, so there will be three tournaments involving those teams throughout the season (one of those three is local to Southern California). There are other
events we are invited to as well. Not all athletes go to all games. For
instance, the youth may not be invited to play in some of the games with the
adults, and some of the less-skilled team members might not be invited to the
national tournaments.
How much does it cost to be an athlete on the team?
The first practice someone gets on the ice in a hockey sled is free. How will you know if you’ll like it until you’ve tried it, right? If you decide to join the team, the fees are $50 a month. That’s quite inexpensive for hockey. Members also have to join USA Hockey. The first season, USA Hockey membership is free for disabled athletes, but for subsequent years it’s $46 annually.
The first practice someone gets on the ice in a hockey sled is free. How will you know if you’ll like it until you’ve tried it, right? If you decide to join the team, the fees are $50 a month. That’s quite inexpensive for hockey. Members also have to join USA Hockey. The first season, USA Hockey membership is free for disabled athletes, but for subsequent years it’s $46 annually.
Do you have coaches?
Yes.
We are fortunate to have highly-qualified excellent coaches who work on helping athletes learn the awesome sport of hockey, stretch to reach the next level, learn to be part of a team, and have a lot of fun playing hockey.
Head Coach: Andrew Hodge- level 5 USA Hockey certified coach (highest level). Former player for Cal State Fullerton. He also is a certified referee.
Head Coach Youth: Jim Edelbrock- level 4 USA Hockey certified coach. He also coaches youth in house at TSC.
Assistant Coach/On-Ice Volunteer: Christie Jenkins- level 1 USA Hockey certified coach and assistant team manager. She also plays on a standing all-women's hockey team.
On Ice Volunteers: Kelsey Del Nero and Marlene Contreras.
Off Ice Volunteers: Todd Jenkins (team manager) and Bud Swope.
Yes.
We are fortunate to have highly-qualified excellent coaches who work on helping athletes learn the awesome sport of hockey, stretch to reach the next level, learn to be part of a team, and have a lot of fun playing hockey.
Head Coach: Andrew Hodge- level 5 USA Hockey certified coach (highest level). Former player for Cal State Fullerton. He also is a certified referee.
Head Coach Youth: Jim Edelbrock- level 4 USA Hockey certified coach. He also coaches youth in house at TSC.
Assistant Coach/On-Ice Volunteer: Christie Jenkins- level 1 USA Hockey certified coach and assistant team manager. She also plays on a standing all-women's hockey team.
Off Ice Volunteers: Todd Jenkins (team manager) and Bud Swope.
What do I need to wear?
Full gear is required for people who are taking part in most activities at practices. That includes
Hockey
helmet with cage
Shoulder
pads
Elbow pads
Gloves
Shin guards
Closed-toed
shoes
Possibly
hockey pants (depends on how you fit in the sled)
The good news is that the team has a supply of hockey
equipment that athletes can borrow for free until they have the money to get their
own equipment. Hopefully we’ll have your size and you won’t have to buy any
gear to start. As you go along, you’ll end up purchasing your own gear piece by
piece, a month here and a month there. Show up for practice in long pants,
either a Tshirt or a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toed shoes.
I don’t have a hockey sled. How do I get one?
Good news! We have a few extra hockey sleds and there’s a good chance one will fit you. We also have sled hockey sticks. You are welcome to borrow one of our team sleds and sticks until you can get your own. So, you don’t need to worry about getting your own sled right now. We have one waiting for you. However, if you’re curious or wealthy, you can get one from mobilitysports.com/ or uniqueinventionsinc.com/
I don’t have a hockey sled. How do I get one?
Good news! We have a few extra hockey sleds and there’s a good chance one will fit you. We also have sled hockey sticks. You are welcome to borrow one of our team sleds and sticks until you can get your own. So, you don’t need to worry about getting your own sled right now. We have one waiting for you. However, if you’re curious or wealthy, you can get one from mobilitysports.com/ or uniqueinventionsinc.com/
What sort of disabilities can participate in sled hockey?
That’s easy. Everyone can participate!
Want a little more clarity? Sled hockey is a form of ice hockey adapted specifically for people with mobility disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, spina bifida, etc. We have a few injured veterans and we’ve also had athletes with skeletal dysplasia, OI, cerebral palsy, TBI, and other disabilities as well. It is a competitive sport and the teams practice and play to win. When we play games, one team wins, and the other loses. This isn’t the type of sport where everyone gets a “participation ribbon.” However, with that said, everyone is welcome to come try sled hockey out.
We take all athletes and we do not discriminate due to disability (or no disability, as the case may be). If a person is able-bodied or has a different type of disability, he or she is welcome to come try the sport and even join the program. The majority of our athletes have physical disabilities and have typical intelligence. Sometimes we get an athlete with a physical disability and a sibling, parent, or friend who has no disability but wants to join the team so they can play alongside each other.
Keep in mind that all athletes need to have proper safety gear. If someone is scared to have a helmet with a face cage, we cannot let the person on the ice. We cannot compromise athlete safety. We have pusher bars for athletes who do not have the upper body strength to move themselves in their sleds, so we can have skaters pushing them. As long as the athlete can hit the puck somehow, we'll try to accommodate the athlete. In the past, we have adapted sleds so they have higher backs for people who need more support, and we can adjust the width of the sled blades for better balance.
Sled hockey is an awesome sport and it’s fun. Everyone is welcome to try. Come try it out! With that said, people with developmental disabilities might be more comfortable on a Special Hockey team where they teach athletes to skate and play hockey standing up. Some special hockey teams around the area are: The California Condors, The Valencia Flyers, and The San Diego Chill.
That’s easy. Everyone can participate!
Want a little more clarity? Sled hockey is a form of ice hockey adapted specifically for people with mobility disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, spina bifida, etc. We have a few injured veterans and we’ve also had athletes with skeletal dysplasia, OI, cerebral palsy, TBI, and other disabilities as well. It is a competitive sport and the teams practice and play to win. When we play games, one team wins, and the other loses. This isn’t the type of sport where everyone gets a “participation ribbon.” However, with that said, everyone is welcome to come try sled hockey out.
We take all athletes and we do not discriminate due to disability (or no disability, as the case may be). If a person is able-bodied or has a different type of disability, he or she is welcome to come try the sport and even join the program. The majority of our athletes have physical disabilities and have typical intelligence. Sometimes we get an athlete with a physical disability and a sibling, parent, or friend who has no disability but wants to join the team so they can play alongside each other.
Keep in mind that all athletes need to have proper safety gear. If someone is scared to have a helmet with a face cage, we cannot let the person on the ice. We cannot compromise athlete safety. We have pusher bars for athletes who do not have the upper body strength to move themselves in their sleds, so we can have skaters pushing them. As long as the athlete can hit the puck somehow, we'll try to accommodate the athlete. In the past, we have adapted sleds so they have higher backs for people who need more support, and we can adjust the width of the sled blades for better balance.
Sled hockey is an awesome sport and it’s fun. Everyone is welcome to try. Come try it out! With that said, people with developmental disabilities might be more comfortable on a Special Hockey team where they teach athletes to skate and play hockey standing up. Some special hockey teams around the area are: The California Condors, The Valencia Flyers, and The San Diego Chill.
Is it full-contact?
Yes.
I’ve never played hockey before. Do you take beginners?
Yes. No excuses. The only thing worse than not knowing how to play hockey is not being willing to learn. Our coaches will help you learn from the beginning.
Yes. No excuses. The only thing worse than not knowing how to play hockey is not being willing to learn. Our coaches will help you learn from the beginning.
Do you take girls/women?
Yes. Our teams are co-ed. Frankly, our team has a lot of male athletes, but we have three adult women and two youth girls who currently participate. Girls rock!
Yes. Our teams are co-ed. Frankly, our team has a lot of male athletes, but we have three adult women and two youth girls who currently participate. Girls rock!
I do not live near Riverside .
Are there other teams around?
Yes. Our program is the oldest and largest in Southern
California , but there are more. There is a team in San Diego. Click here for info on the San Diego program. There is also a program in Oxnard that does sled hockey once-a-month along with adaptive
surfing and skating. Click here for info on the Oxnard program. There is also a program in Bakersfield that is currently affiliated with the LA Kings program in Riverside. They attend tournaments and games with us as members of our team, though they practice in Bakersfield. For information on the Bakersfield program, click here.
I still don’t see one by my house. Can you make a program
closer to my house?
No, but you can. If you want information on starting your own sled hockey program so that it’s convenient for you, contact Todd at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com and he’ll get you in touch with the right people.
Do you need volunteers?
All of our staff are volunteers, including coaches, helpers, managers, etc. We are always looking for more volunteers both on and off the ice. Please contact Todd at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com for more information on volunteering. Sometimes we have single events such as clinics where we need a lot of volunteers for just one date, so even if you think you cannot be a “regular,” we might have volunteer opportunities for you.
When is your next game? I want to watch you play.
Keep up with us at Facebook.com/LAKingsSledHockey and socalsledhockey.blogspot.com. You can also follow @SoCalSledHockey on Twitter for updates. We try to keep those pages updated with games and events as best as we can.
Keep up with us at Facebook.com/LAKingsSledHockey and socalsledhockey.blogspot.com. You can also follow @SoCalSledHockey on Twitter for updates. We try to keep those pages updated with games and events as best as we can.
I coach/manage a regular (standing) hockey team and I would like them to try sled hockey. Can you help?
Maybe. We occasionally have games against standing hockey teams where we put them in sleds and play them. If you would like to arrange a game or event, please contact LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com.
Maybe. We occasionally have games against standing hockey teams where we put them in sleds and play them. If you would like to arrange a game or event, please contact LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com.
Do you need donations of hockey gear? I have some in my garage.
YES! We always need more hockey gear. At this point, we seem to be especially low on adult sized helmets and shoulder pads. Any hockey gear is accepted, and if we cannot use it, we’ll pass it along to other hockey programs that can. Due to our tight budget, we cannot purchase used hockey gear from you, but free donations are always accepted. Clean out your garage. You have no excuses.
Can I donate money to you?
Yes! Please, please, please. We are a 501c3 organization, so your donations are tax deductible. Contact Todd at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com for information.
Yes! Please, please, please. We are a 501c3 organization, so your donations are tax deductible. Contact Todd at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com for information.
Can I meet the LA Kings?
We are the LA Kings sled hockey team, and all you need to do is come out to one of our practices, games, or events to meet us and our athletes. If you want to meet the LA Kings pro hockey players (Jonathan Quick, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, etc.), we CANNOT facilitate that. Sorry.
We are the LA Kings sled hockey team, and all you need to do is come out to one of our practices, games, or events to meet us and our athletes. If you want to meet the LA Kings pro hockey players (Jonathan Quick, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, etc.), we CANNOT facilitate that. Sorry.
Is it legal for you to use the name and logo of the LA
Kings?
Yes, we are supported by the LA Kings and we are proud to take their
name. We enjoy working with them and they are a really wonderful organization
that does a lot for our program. They were the first California NHL team to
support sled hockey. 
Do you have a question that wasn't answered here? e-mail Todd as LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.comlakingssledhockey@gmail.com
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