LA Kings Sled Hockey: Onward and Upward!

Since the Los Angeles Kings have officially taken over management of the Riverside sled hockey program and have given the team its own web page, we are going to consider this blog closed. If you would like to get information about the program or join L.A. Kings Sled Hockey, please visit the website at https://www.nhl.com/kings/community/sled-hockey. The page has registration and information links. Hope to see you on the ice!

Television "Stars"

Members of the LA Kings Sled Hockey team were cast as featured extras in the episode of ABC's hit sitcom "Speechless," The episode the sled hockey team is featured in will air on December 7 at 8:30 on ABC. Be sure to tune in. 

They spent 14 hours filming several scenes on the ice (and one scene off the ice). The scenes were filmed at Valley Ice Center in Panorama City. The crew covered most of the identifying banners in the rink, but those who are familiar with the rink may still be able to recognize it. Most of the 14 hours was spent on the ice. As you are aware, filming means having to do scenes again and again and again (and again and again and again). 

It was a very fun day. After the filming was over, everyone felt beat up because we do not normally spend 14 hours on the ice, but after a few days, we felt better. It was definitely a great experience and we thank the producers of Speechless profusely for the opportunity.

Be sure to tune in or set your DVR for ABC on Wednesday, December 7 to see the sled hockey team's acting skills.

Hockey in Music City

November 17-20, the LA Kings Sled Hockey team traveled to Nashville to take part in the NHL Sled Classic. This tournament is open for sled hockey teams that are sponsored by an NHL team. In our division, there were two Nashville Sled Pred teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Out of all of those teams, the way the brackets went, the Kings played the Preds 1, the Canes, the Preds 2, and the Penguins during the tournament.

Out of the four games the team played, we won two and lost two. The two we lost we lost by only one goal. It was disappointing to be knocked out in the semi-finals rather than going to the finals in the tourney, but we commend the team for their perseverance and toughness.

Our next tournaments is in San Diego the weekend of January 7-8.
Then on to Phoenix February 10-12.
Then our "home" tournament in Valencia March 3-5.
Then Nationals in San Jose April 6-9. 

And the Winner Is....

Thanks to everyone who bought tickets. The Kings BBQ set raffle brought in $260 for LA Kings Sled Hockey! And the winner is.... Ticket #209. Bella Bristow! Congratulations!

It's heating up outside. (OK, I live in Southern CA, so it never really gets that cold anyway.) What does warm weather bring? The itch to heat up the grill. Right?!

Grilled steak.
Grilled chicken
Grilled burgers
Grilled fish
Grilled veggies
Grilled kabobs

And don't forget roasted marshmallows.


But you aren't grilling right. Do you know why? Because you aren't grilling your food with LA Kings BBQ tools.

What is an LA Kings BBQ Tool? Glad you asked.

Glad you asked.



You see, the Kings players break sticks. When the sticks break, a company called Hat Trick BBQ gets them to recycle into cool things.

These BBQ tools are made out of sticks used by and broken by Alec Martinez, Trevor Lewis, and Christian Ehrhoff.

How do I know? It says so right on the tools. See?

(Yes, this has a red background, but it's the exact same set as the one on the blue background. Exactly the same.)

(Yes, this is on a blue background, but it's the exact same set as the one on the red background. Exactly the same set.)

Imagine hosting a watch party during the playoffs and showing off your LA Kings BBQ tools.



Or you could use the set as a gift for a Kings fan you love. St, Patrick's Day, April Fool's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation are coming up (not to mention birthdays and anniversaries).

(How you will look when/if you win this BBQ tools set)

This spring and summer, when you grill your food, you can flip your steak with a spatula made out of a hockey stick handled by the Stanley Cup winning goal scorer himself-- Mr. Jazz Hands. And other tools (tongs, fork, and bottle opener) are made from sticks from Trevor Lewis and Christian Ehrhoff. The names of the players are right on the tools. (See the pictures above)

(Tickets are virtual, so you will get ticket numbers when you purchase online)

You see, we have people who want to join the team, but we are low on extra sleds. We are hoping to use this raffle to raise the money to purchase a new hockey sled so we can get more athletes on the ice.

So far, we have made this much progress:

The actual raffle drawing will be held on March 7, 2016 at 7:30 PM. The winner will be announced on the LA Kings Sled Hockey Facebook page, Twitter under SoCalSledHockey, and here on this page as well shortly after 7:30 on March 7, 2016. The winner will also be contacted via the e-mail address provided so we can arrange shipping (the shipping will be free, but we need an address to send it).


The winner of this raffle will have bragging rights forever. You will truly be....

Practices have moved to Tuesdays from now on for the 2015-16 season. Ice time starts at 8:00 PM, so get there in plenty of time to get your gear on and stretch before practice starts. Practices are still at LA Kings Icetown Riverside (10540 Magnolia in Riverside). Thank you to a very generous donation from the LA Kings that allows us to have an ice time at a priority time.

If you have a question about LA Kings Sled Hockey, check out our FAQ page here.  If the question isn't answered, or you want to contact someone, contact us at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com. Don't forget to follow our Facebook page or find us on LAKings.com/sled.


Schedule for the 2015-16 season:

Note: all dates are subject to change.

Yes, we need to raise lots of financial support for these things. You will note that in addition to our regular practices, we have 5 travel tourneys and travel games. Two of those are only about a 5 hour drive away (Phoenix and Sacramento), but the rest are going to have to be airplane trips. If you have a boss who is interested in helping the LA Kings Sled Hockey Team financially, please contact us at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com.

Sept 12- Walk for Hydrocephalus.

Approximately six athletes on the LA Kings Sled Hockey team have shunted hydrocephalus. The LA Kings Sled Hockey Team will be walking and rolling at the Walk for Hydrocephalus/LA Kings 5K in Redondo Beach. Join us for the walk, and please donate to help find better treatments and a cure for hydrocephalus. Click here to join the team or donate.

Some LA Kings Sled Hockey Members at the 2014 Walk for Hydrocephalus pose with Daryl Evans.

Oct 3- DisAbility Sports Festival at Cal State San Bernardino

Cal State San Bernardino has no ice rink, but they have asked LA Kings Sled Hockey's managers Todd and Christie Jenkins to give the keynote address to athletes and volunteers at their annual event. Come out and try several different adaptive sports, including kayaking, wheelchair basketball, archery, goalball, and many other things. The festival is open to people with all sorts of disabilities, including both mobility disabilities and developmental disabilities.

LA Kings Sled Hockey will have a booth there where you will be able to see a sled first hand, try shooting a hockey puck, and meet some of the athletes. We may even have some sleds with wheel kits for people to try.  Find out more about the event and/or sign up as a participant or volunteer here. 

File photo of our sled hockey booth at the DisAbility Sports Festival circa 2011. 

Oct 23-25 Tourney in Colorado with the new Western Sled Hockey League.
That's right! This is the inaugural season of the restart of the Western Sled Hockey League. This year, the league will have four teams:
                   Colorado Avs Adult B Sled Hockey
                   Colorado Warriors Sled Hockey
                   Arizona Coyotes Sled Hockey
And.... your very own LA Kings Sled Hockey Team! Our first tournament weekend is in Denver Oct. 23-25. Two more tournaments will take place in January and February.

LA Kings Sled Hockey athlete LJ at a recent practice.

The bench between periods at the Disabled Hockey Festival in Buffalo last April.

Nov. 15-Veterans' Clinic
 LA Kings Sled Hockey is teaming up with the LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey, and Colorado Warriors, along with USA Hockey to put on a veterans sled hockey free clinic at the Iceoplex in Escondido. More information will be coming soon, but if you are a disabled veteran and would like to try sled hockey, this is your chance! Contact Todd at LAKingsSledHockey@gmail.com to make sure you get all the information as soon as it's available. This is a big deal and you won't want to miss it!

Also, we are in need of adult-sized hockey helmets for this event, so if you have one sitting on a shelf in your garage, please consider donating it to us. It will be greatly appreciated.

While at the Disabled Hockey Festival in Buffalo, LA Kings Sled Hockey had the pleasure of playing the USA Warriors, an all-disabled vet sled hockey team. 

Nov 19-22 NHL Sled Classic in Coral Springs, Florida
The Florida Panthers are hosting the NHL Sled Classic this season. LA Kings Sled Hockey is planning to be there and make a statement.

Fist bump on a scrimmage goal at a recent practice.

This summer, LA Kings Sled Hockey members participated on a 3 on 3 hockey tournament called Face Off With Cancer. Here is a newspaper article mentioning the involvement of the team. Darlene Bradford, a defensman on LA Kings Sled Hockey received a grant of $1,000 from Face Off With Cancer at the event.

LA Kings Sled Hockey plays a sled hockey demo at Face off With Cancer event in June in Simi Valley.

Dec 18-19- Outdoor game vs. The Ducks in Sacramento. ROAD TRIP! 
What the...???? Yes, you read that right. It's an outdoor game at a temporary outdoor rink that will be at Raley Field in Sacramento. The AHL will be hosting an outdoor hockey game between the AHL's Stockton Thunder (Calgary's new AHL affiliate) vs. the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton's new AHL affiliate) on December 18, and we have been asked to play a sled hockey game prior to the AHL game. They are working out the schedule as we speak, and the official AHL schedule will be released on August 31, so there is a possibility it will be slightly different than described. Yes, we will be playing one or two outdoor games on an outdoor rink in a baseball stadium. Sounds like a hoot!

Raley Field in Sacramento, where LA Kings Sled Hockey will play the San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey in an outdoor game.

You may remember the LA Kings playing a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium in 2014. Having a temporary sheet of ice in a baseball stadium is not unheard of. 

Jan 8-10- Western Sled Hockey League Tourney- HERE in Southern CA!!!

This is the second tournament weekend of the Western Sled Hockey League, and we will be hosting the tournament HERE, somewhere in Southern California. Details will come out later. We will need volunteers and all sorts of people behind the scenes working to make this a success.

Feb 12-14 Tourney in Phoenix
This is also part of the Western Sled Hockey League. More details to come.

April 7-10 Disabled Hockey Festival in Detroit, MI.
Yep, Nationals are in Detroit this year. We will have been preparing all season to go out and try to bring home the trophy and banner. 

In addition, we will have some demo games and other events that happen throughout the season, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open.