NHL Sled Hockey Classic comes to Bflo

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - While all of us wait for multi-millionaires to figure out the end of the NHL lockout, the members of sled hockey teams from all over the country show what really matters, the true love of the game.

The 3rd annual NHL Sled Hockey Classic was played at the North Town's Center in Amherst Saturday morning.

Hockey player Victor Calise says," We love it for the sport. Hockey is love and every hockey player will tell you if they're able bodied or not that they want to play. They want to compete, they want to get physical.

A total of 14 teams from all across the country traveled here to Western New York to take part.

USA Sled Hockey Representative, Norm Page says, "These players are holding two sticks, they're propelling themselves with those sticks and then they're passing and shooting with the stick on the other end. They can shoot left, shoot right. It's an incredible skill."

Don't be mistaken, this sport is very similar to that of hockey. There are also no limits for age, handicap, or gender.

Sled hockey player, Sara Tabor says, "We check, we fight with the guys, we beat up the guys they're sometimes a little crass but you gotta take it and you gotta give it to them back."

The teams are comprised of amputees, people born with disabilities, paraplegics, and war veterans and even able bodied persons.

Sara wasn't always a hockey player. She grew up in Minnesota and ice skated, but a freak accident overseas left her paralyzed nearly four years ago.

"For a year I was basically shut in, I lost my job during that period because of the recession and what was awesome was I got a new job and found sled hockey and it set me back to right. It got me back talking to people and being ok with all of this," Tabor said.