When it comes to para ice hockey (formerly sledge hockey), Billy Bridges is a household name.
He holds multiple world championship gold medals, Paralympic gold and bronze medals (Torino and Sochi, respectively), and is currently getting the next wave of para ice hockey players ready for the 2017-2018 season.
He also hails from Summerside, P.E.I., and with the World Sledge Hockey Challenge returning to Charlottetown this December, it was the perfect opportunity to invite Bridges to not only be part of Rogers Hometown Hockey, but to give us some insight on the deeper impact sledge hockey has had on his life.
For Bridges, sledge hockey is more than a sport. We asked him to share five things he learned from playing sledge hockey.
1. Handling adversity
“Sports have really challenged me to question my perceived limitations of my disability. From simple things like how to get my gear from the house to the rink (carrying everything together in my chair) to what are my real limitations with training to be the best athlete I can be.”
2. Being a good teammate
“Being a good teammate on a successful team doesn’t mean trying to do everything all the time, or always try to put the team on my back. Sometimes the best thing a teammate can do is learn how to follow. Instead of always looking for the spotlight, try to create a spotlight for others, it always leads to a more successful team.”
3. Work ethic
“When I look at my career now, I am just as proud about my work ethic and discipline that I’ve found later in my career than I am of our gold medal we won at the 2006 Paralympic Games. I used to think sport was always only about the end goal, the big prize. It has taken me my whole career to realize sport is all about bettering your life and getting better each day that passes.”
4. Paying it forward
“I love teaching the game now. I realized a few years ago that all of the things that I do in sledge hockey came so naturally to me. My best friend (and 19-year Team Canada teammate) Brad Bowden and I played for hours and hours and took for granted all those little things that we learned along the way. I love teaching that now to new sledge hockey players that want to learn how to get better. Young or old, this game can be a tricky thing to pick up, so I really enjoy helping people get to know the nuances of the game.”
5. Family impact
“Playing hockey has impacted my life so amazingly. It was through hockey that I was able to meet my wife, Sami Jo Small, after we both won the Olympics in 2006. She introduced me to the charity Right To Play, and while attending some events together we hit it off with our shared love of hockey and all Canadiana. We have a soon-to-be two-year-old daughter, who no doubt will find a life-long love of hockey. After ‘mommy,’ ‘daddy,’ and, of course, ‘doggy,’ ‘hockey’ was her next word. I can’t wait to start helping her learn the game, and start watching her chase her dreams, as I chased (and continue to chase) mine.”
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