In Canada, hockey is the people's sport, but not every Canadian has the ability to play. For many lacing up skates isn't an option, but with creation of sledge hockey more opportunities have developed for everyone to participate in a version of Canada's national sport.
The town of Wawota welcomed the first recreational sledge hockey tournament of its kind in the area, with Melanie Brimner heading organization of the event.
Seven years ago her son, Blake Lamontagne, was in a car accident which left him injured and in need of a wheelchair.
The idea for the tournament came with the want for Brimner's family to be able to play hockey together, a favourite pastime of the family.
"The reason I wanted to hold this was for my son," Brimner explained. "He was in a car accident seven years ago, that's why I'm doing it... I wanted to see my son play and my boys have never played hockey together."
"Also, there's a few guys in the community with cerebral palsy that have never played [hockey] before so it's just a good way to get people on the ice that have never had the opportunity."
In total 11 teams of four took part in the tournament, with a couple ladies teams playing Saturday, March 15, in the afternoon for fun.
The recreational tournament began Friday, March 14, in the evening and continued through Saturday.
Many expressed the difficulties of propelling themselves forward on the ice, but soon caught onto the process of moving across the ice.
Brimner explained the event would never have happened without the support of the community with many friends, family, and community members aiding in the organization of the event.
The equipment for the tournament was supplied by the Regina Sledge Hockey Team, which allowed Brimner and her family to bring awareness to people in Wawota and the surrounding community.
"It was about awareness and getting everybody to see how it is to not be able to use your legs," Brimner explained.
Any money raised from the tournament will be donated towards the Wawota rink and towards spinal cord injury research.
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