Team Saskatchewan Sledge Hockey poses for a photo on Jan. 29, 2022. (Submitted photo/Les Nemish)

By Derek Craddock

TEAM SASK. SLEDGE HOCKEY

‘It’s opened the door’: P.A. coach helps build first provincial sledge hockey team

Feb 15, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A Prince Albert man is grateful to be a part of something outstanding: coaching the first-ever Saskatchewan Provincial Sledge Hockey Team.

Les Nemish is one of three coaches that help guide the team, which finally came to fruition late last year after COVID halted plans to start earlier.

Nemish’s son Jason was born with Spina Bifida and wanted to play hockey but couldn’t find the opportunities. Thankfully, sledge hockey soon became an option.

“We would go to the local rink out on the sloughs out here on the farm (and) we would start playing,” said Nemish. “Then we heard that there was a team in Bruno that had started through some friends that they were playing sledge hockey and through Sask. Wheelchair. So, we got hooked up there and he started playing with them.”

Nemish soon found there were many teams in the province in places like Cut Knife, Regina, Kindersley and Saskatoon.

Pa Votes 2024

LIVE: Results of the municipal election

15h ago

Missing persons

Prince Albert missing persons case approaches one year anniversary

18h ago

Shopting Little Red River

Shooting at Little Red puts two men behind bars

20h ago

While being a part of the teams provided a great experience for sledge hockey players, one thing was missing: A chance to play on the national stage as part of a provincial squad.

“One of the fathers came up to me and said, ‘what’s the chance of taking all the good players that we have in the province right now and make a provincial team?” said Nemish.

“We approached every player and every team to bring whoever they want to bring into some tryouts. So, we had tryouts in November, and we picked the best players that we could get, and we’ve put this team together and we’ve been practicing every three weeks.”

Recently, the team played a couple of exhibition games against the Southern Alberta All-Stars in Kindersley.

The team will be back on the ice later this month as they have scheduled a couple of games against the national women’s team.

“We’ve been fortunate to have the national women’s team’s coach Tara Chisholm and Derek Whitson, who was a former national men’s player,” said Nemish. “They came in to assist with Team Saskatchewan to get us to where we’re starting and focusing on the big goal and the big picture later on.”

For Nemish, this provincial team is a great starting point, one that has opened the door for more players and coaches to participate.

“It’s still hockey. So, that’s what it’s about too and I’m working on trying to get more involvement in the Prince Albert area. If we can get some players around here wanting to play, then we can get a team going and then we can work with that and make it grow.”

The exhibition games against the national women’s team are scheduled to take place February 25 and 27 at the Merlin Belsher Centre in Saskatoon.

—

derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock