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Interview: Parlaympic Sledger Greg Westlake

Posted on 19. Feb, 2010 by Rob Howatson in People

PARALYMPICS UPDATE

Rumbling sledge 2010: Going for paralympic gold

by Rob Howatson

Introduction

In Sweden, in the 1960s, a group of paraplegic hockey fans decided they weren’t ready to hang up their skates, so they sat on them — and the sport of sledge hockey was born.

Players in this fast, hard-hitting, low-to-the-ice game sit on metal frame sleds, which are in turn mounted atop two hockey skate blades. The athletes hold mini hockey sticks in each hand, using the metal-tipped, butt-end of the shafts to propel themselves across the ice.

Surprisingly, Canada has been late in achieving dominance in this sport. Paralympic gold did not come our way until Torino in 2006, when North Vancouver-born sledger Greg Westlake and his team blanked Norway 3-0. Now the 23-year-old right-winger and his squad will attempt to defend their title at the 2010 Games. Westlake, currently living in Mississauga, Ontario, took time out from training to explain why B.C.’ers should check out the sledge-hammering at UBC Thunderbird Arena this March.

The Interview

WW: Why were your legs amputated when you were 18 months old?

GW: It was a birth defect. My feet didn’t form properly.

WW:How did you get into sledge hockey?

GW: As a kid, I played stand-up hockey on prosthetic legs. I couldn’t skate as fast as the other kids, so I was relegated to goalie. Then, at 16, I switched to sledge hockey, which allowed me to do what I’d always wanted: to join the rush. I’m an energetic guy, an aggressive guy. Playing forward suits my personality. And not only can I do that in sledge hockey, but I can do it on a level playing field with other athletes who are lower-limb disabled. That’s a rush.

WW: What was your most frustrating moment when learning to skate with your hands?

GW: Being worse than everyone else. Since I was coming from a stand-up hockey background, I thought I’d just jump right in and be a great player. In reality, I had to learn to skate all over again.

WW: How do the rules of sledge differ from stand-up hockey?

GW: They’re similar, but in sledge the refs don’t allow “Teeing,” so you can’t use your sled to ram an opponent’s at right angles. No T-boning.

WW: Which still leaves room for devastating, clean hits?

GW: For sure. Unlike stand-up hockey, in which players hit the boards high, where the “glass” flexes, we slam into the boards low, where there’s no “glass” and no flex. It’s like hitting a cement wall.

WW: What can first-time sledge viewers expect in terms of puck-handling and shots? ?

WW:The stickwork is every bit as impressive as in the upright game. Players can dribble the puck so that it crosses beneath their sled — a great way to confuse goalies. As for shots, some of our guys blast pucks that travel 60 to 70 mph.

WW: How did people react to sledge hockey at the 2006 Torino games?

GW: The crowds were surprisingly good. Early on, organizers had to bus school kids in to fill out the stands, but as things progressed, the sport grew in popularity. I like to think our team’s gritty determination had something to do with that. And our gold-medal game ended up being broadcast live in Torino’s town square, where the thousands who couldn’t get tickets to the sold-out final jammed the plaza to watch the event. I hope it’s like that in Vancouver for these Paralympic games. The larger the attendance, the more pumped we get, the harder we play and the more exciting the sport.

Tags: 2010 Paralympics - Sledging, Paralympic Sledger Greg Westlake