Ice sled hockey puts players on a narrow sled, with each athlete holding two sticks for propulsion around the rink, often hurtling at speeds of 30-35 miles per hour. Dubbed "anger management for men," the sport is particularly challenging because the players suffer a wide range of disabilities: birth defects, spina bifida, war injuries, and amputations. Filmmaker Brian Knappenberger's PBS-aired documentary follows the U.S. Paralympic sled hockey team as they come together, bond, and train, all with the goal of winning back to back gold medals at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia in early 2014. The men hail from different backgrounds, and are of various ages, but several are military veterans who lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Players describe their struggle to overcome depression and self-pity, referring to the "light switch moment" that led them to submit and commit to a rigorous training schedule. For many of the men here, there is the additional concern of being seriously injured on the ice and adding to their wounds. Paralympic competition is a serious business (sled hockey has only been a recognized event since 1994): as the team prepares for Sochi, the roster must be cut to 15 men, honed down while meeting the archrival Canadian team on home ice. Ice Warriors also allows time for the athletes to talk about their backstories, disappointments, hopes, and what the game means to them. One athlete calls the sport "the best 45 minutes of my life," a time when he can forget about his troubles and pain. An inspiring film that should appeal to sports fans, this is recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)
Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey
(2014) 86 min. DVD: $24.99. PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-60883-086-2. Volume 30, Issue 2
Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey
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