LeBlanc, who has spina bifida, was among the participants in a series of learn-to-sledge sessions at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, a program that enabled him to give sledge hockey a try.
Moments after the conclusion of the last session on April 25, LeBlanc was asked for his impressions of sledge hockey.
“I like it a lot,” he said. “It’s fun. If you don’t get a chance to play hockey – the (regular) sport – and you get to play this, it’s a very good opportunity.”
Sledge hockey enables people with lower-body disabilities to play hockey, although it’s for able-bodied people too.
LeBlanc acknowledged that it takes awhile to get used to the sledges, so practice helps.
“This is my third time,” he said, referring to the April 25 session. “The first time was a bit rusty, but it got (better) the second time and today I got more comfortable with it.”
It’s a pretty good workout, he said, an observation shared by Ryan Shay, another Yarmouthian who was on hand to give the sledges a try. For Shay, an accomplished competitive wheelchair athlete, the concluding session at the Mariners Centre was his first sledge experience.
“I haven’t played hockey for a little over two years, so getting back on the ice was definitely fun,” he said. He tipped his cap to the organizers of the learn-to-sledge sessions.
“Getting to meet new people and introduce a new sport to the community, it’s all good,” he said.
Like LeBlanc, Shay said he would encourage others to consider trying the sledges if they get a chance.
“Not just people with disabilities,” he said. “It’s a sport that anyone can play … It’s a good workout and definitely would be a fun sport for anyone to try.”
Natalie Surette d’Entremont, active living coordinator for the Municipality of Argyle and one of those involved in organizing the sledge program, said she was very pleased with how it went.
The program’s success was determined not just by the number of participants, she said, but also in that it gave people – regardless of age, gender or ability – a chance to try a new activity.
“We have hopes of reoffering this program next winter,” she said. “In the meantime, the blades will be changed to wheels and these sledges will be used in our summer programming.”
LeBlanc, who has spina bifida, was among the participants in a series of learn-to-sledge sessions at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, a program that enabled him to give sledge hockey a try.
Moments after the conclusion of the last session on April 25, LeBlanc was asked for his impressions of sledge hockey.
“I like it a lot,” he said. “It’s fun. If you don’t get a chance to play hockey – the (regular) sport – and you get to play this, it’s a very good opportunity.”
Sledge hockey enables people with lower-body disabilities to play hockey, although it’s for able-bodied people too.
LeBlanc acknowledged that it takes awhile to get used to the sledges, so practice helps.
“This is my third time,” he said, referring to the April 25 session. “The first time was a bit rusty, but it got (better) the second time and today I got more comfortable with it.”
It’s a pretty good workout, he said, an observation shared by Ryan Shay, another Yarmouthian who was on hand to give the sledges a try. For Shay, an accomplished competitive wheelchair athlete, the concluding session at the Mariners Centre was his first sledge experience.
“I haven’t played hockey for a little over two years, so getting back on the ice was definitely fun,” he said. He tipped his cap to the organizers of the learn-to-sledge sessions.
“Getting to meet new people and introduce a new sport to the community, it’s all good,” he said.
Like LeBlanc, Shay said he would encourage others to consider trying the sledges if they get a chance.
“Not just people with disabilities,” he said. “It’s a sport that anyone can play … It’s a good workout and definitely would be a fun sport for anyone to try.”
Natalie Surette d’Entremont, active living coordinator for the Municipality of Argyle and one of those involved in organizing the sledge program, said she was very pleased with how it went.
The program’s success was determined not just by the number of participants, she said, but also in that it gave people – regardless of age, gender or ability – a chance to try a new activity.
“We have hopes of reoffering this program next winter,” she said. “In the meantime, the blades will be changed to wheels and these sledges will be used in our summer programming.”
