2017 Disabled Hockey Festival

By Administrator on November 23, 2016

General Information

USA Hockey and the Pacific District are proud to invite you the 13th Annual Disabled Hockey Festival to be held April 6th – 9th, 2017 in San Jose, California.

The mission of the Festival is to provide a fun and exciting weekend of hockey in a grand event as well as promote and grow disabled hockey throughout the country. The largest disabled hockey event of its kind, USA Hockey’s Disabled Hockey Festival brings together all the disciplines: deaf/hard of hearing, sled hockey, special hockey and standing amputee / warrior.

Depending on the number of teams per division, some games may start at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2017. All games shall conclude in the early afternoon on Sunday, April, 9, 2017.

Social activities will be planned for all participants and their families. These activities will include pin trading! Details will be provided as the events are finalized.

The cost to participate in the 2017 Disabled Festival will be $350 if your registration and payment is received by December 31, 2016 and $500 if your registration and payment is received after that date.

All entries must be received by February 14, 2017.

Disciplines Offered

The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Discipline will compete in games during the Festival against local teams from the San Jose area. This will include an educational component for the typical hearing players.

The Sled Hockey Discipline will have several divisions for both youth and adult players. The Youth Division will consist of three (3) levels (A, B, and C), depending on the number of teams that participate. The Festival Committee will work with each youth sled hockey team to identify their skill level and place them at the appropriate level. The Adult Division will consist of four (4) levels: a single eight (8) team USA Hockey Adult Sled Hockey National Championship Division and three (3) USA Open Divisions (A, B, and C). The eight (8) National Championship teams will be determined by the National Championship Committee. The Festival Committee will work with each of the remaining adult sled hockey teams to identify their skill level and place them at the appropriate level (A, B, or C).

The Special Hockey Discipline will consist of three (3) levels (A, B, and C). This year, we will again be accepting teams from Canada. Canadian teams must be registered with Hockey Canada and provide proof of membership. The Festival Committee will work with each special hockey team to identify their skill level and place them at the appropriate level.

The Standing Amputee/Warrior Division will consist of two (2) levels (A and B). Teams shall consist of Veterans and/or players with amputations that play upright hockey. Veteran players must have served in the armed forces (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy) and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. They must also meet at least one of the following requirements: (a) Purple Heart recipient, (b) have a minimum 10% rating from the VA, or (c) have a disability occurring outside of service (that may or may not have been service related). Verification of disability will be required. Visit www.DisabledHockeyFestival.com for more information and full eligibility requirements.