The Carolina Hurricanes relied on a rather unusual strategy during their development camp to help their up-and-coming talent by introducing them to sled hockey.
This sport, also called parahockey, is mainly practiced by athletes with motor disabilities. The discipline has been used in the Olympic Games since 1994 and the United States has won gold in each of the last four tournaments.
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So the Canes invited members of their own sledge hockey team to join their young players for a debate at the Invisalign Arena on Wednesday. Bradly Nadeau, her most recent first-round draft pick, was there, as was Jackson Blake, who spoke daily to The News & Observer about his experience.
“It was so hard, really a workout for the abs,” said the 19-year-old right winger. I didn’t expect it to be so difficult. It’s nice to see there’s a different way to play, and when you can’t play regular hockey, sled hockey is a great opportunity for these guys to try something new.”
Development camps offer interested parties the opportunity to get acquainted with the reality of professional ice hockey, but also to make a good impression on the organization.
They also enable young people to learn good lessons for the future. For example, the Hurricanes gave cooking classes to prospective customers.