Para Ice Hockey - Where Did it Come From? What Has it Become? And What Comes Next?

Following a miraculous Winter Olympics hockey treble, viewers all over the world have been curious about the impressive sport of Para Ice Hockey and the teams giving it such an iconic name. Read ahead to learn more about the sport and the history behind it!

(Image credit to https://Paralympic.org)

Para Ice Hockey was invented in the early 1960s in a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, by a group of Swedes who were physically disabled and wanted to continue playing hockey. They modified a sled by adding two ice hockey skate blades and used round poles with handles for sticks. They played without goaltenders on a lake in Stockholm.

By 1969, Stockholm had a five-team league with physically impaired and able-bodied players. Later that year, Stockholm hosted the first international Para Ice Hockey match between a local club team and one from Oslo, Norway.

In the following years and decades, several other countries established their own teams, Great Britain (1981), Canada (1982), USA (1990), Estonia and Japan (1993).

Para Ice Hockey became an official event at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games. At the first games, there were 57 total players, which grew to a whopping 117 at the 2022 games. The United States team have won gold every game since 2002, establishing a heavy dominance over the game, but still giving every team close matches and crazy competition. 

The most recent Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games saw the United States grabbing their fifth gold in a row after a 6-2 victory over Canada. The sellout crowd of 10,795 fans set a new record for the highest Para ice hockey attendance at a Paralympic Winter Games. Goals scored by Declan Farmer, Brody Roybal, 19-year-old Kayden Beasley and an incredible hat-trick from Jack Wallace secured the glorious win and extended their long-lasting gold medal streak.

Declan Farmer spoke to Olympics.com after the game, and after being named MVP (Most Valuable Player), Best Forward, and Media Best Player saying,

“It’s that record crowd today.” “Showing what Paralympic sports are growing into, what Milano Cortina did to organise this and sell out a crowd just like they did for the Olympics. It means so much.”

Following the US men and women also winning gold in hockey, the United States became the first nation to sweep all three medals at the same Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Whilst the sport has grown a vast amount since its invention back in the early 1960s, there is still massive improvements and growth to be seen for the sport, in the form of sponsorships, popularity and viewership and all-around support. 

Take this as your sign to look up local leagues, see if they have games you can attend and support, volunteer opportunities to sign up for and donation links to help grow the sport and support the league!

Article Written by Milla Sinfield © Milla Sinfield 2026