Calgary Power Hockey League

PowerHockey is, quite simply, the game of ball hockey adapted so that it can be played by people who use electric wheelchairs.

While PowerHockey is very similar in rules and form when compared to conventional hockey there are some differences.  For instance, a hollow plastic whiffle ball is used instead of a puck and plastic or composite hockey sticks are used instead of wooden versions.  There are reason for these changes is that a great deal of electric wheelchair users have reduced upper body strength and would not be able to move their equipment and the ball without immense difficulty.

If a player is unable to hold their stick they may attach it to their wheelchair with some adaptations so that they may be able to participate in the game.  Specialized brackets for stick positioning attached to a power wheelchair coupled with adaptations to the blade of the stick (i.e. T-sticks, plastic dowelling through conventional blade, etc.) can make it possible for a player who is unable to hold a hockey stick to participate effectively in the game of PowerHockey.

For the most part, the participants in the sport are people who use electric wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility.  However, there are some players who may use a manual wheelchair regularly or have some significant reliance on adaptive equipment for their daily mobility.  The guidelines surrounding player eligibility vary greatly from league to league.  Since PowerHockey is currently being played in one form or another in seventeen (17) countries around the world in Australasia, Europe and North America the differences in the game can range from subtle to extreme due to the fact that the sport has been developed, for the most part, independently from other groups.

The best way to find out is to contact us for more information.  The sport of PowerHockey is a game that even those with "profound" disabilities have been able to play and even excel at.  It is not uncommon for players who attach their sticks to their wheelchairs to become very high calibre players even by international standards.

The game of PowerHockey can be quite serious and it can be as intense as any other hockey game you can see.  The game can vary in intensity from a friendly pickup game all the way to the intensity of international competition.  It all depends on the circumstances and the players involved.

The sport of sledge hockey requires average to above average upper body strength and coordination to play.  However, the great majority of our players do not possess either the strength or the coordination necessary to take part in it due to their disabilities.  There are currently no team sports offered by the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association or the Canadian Paralympic Committee specifically for power wheelchair users. PowerHockey allows people who would otherwise not be able to take part in other sports the opportunity to compete and be part of a team.

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