Team Profile: North Country Sled Dogs
The Sled Dogs are the sled hockey team of Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country (ASPNC). Vermont Amateur Hockey Association lists the team on its sled programs page. The Dogs play out of Fenton Chester Arena in Lyndon, in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, while ASPNC itself is based in Franconia, New Hampshire.
Who are the Sled Dogs?
Adaptive Sports Partners is a nonprofit that offers year-round sport, recreation, and wellness for people with disabilities. Its stated mission is to empower people with disabilities in the North Country of New Hampshire and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont by building community, confidence, and skills through sport, recreation, and adventure. VSAHA describes the Sled Dogs as one of those programs.
A 2015 Lyndon clinic, organized with ASPNC executive director Sandy Olney, helped bring the sport to Fenton Chester Arena. Olney said Jim Davis suggested starting sled hockey there after watching the U.S. team at the Winter Olympics, and that Ice Vets provided the equipment to get started. VSAHA still lists Sandy Olney as the North Country Sled Dog representative.
Practice and location
VSAHA says the Sled Dogs play at Fenton Chester Arena in Lyndon. The rink lists:
ASPNC invites athletes of all abilities and ages into its North Country and Northeast Kingdom programs. Current Sled Dogs ice times should be confirmed with Adaptive Sports Partners; they are not posted as a public weekly schedule on the organization's main site.
How to get involved
Start with Adaptive Sports Partners at adaptivesportspartners.org and the participate page. VSAHA lists Sandy Olney as the North Country Sled Dog representative at (603) 244-0057. The statewide listing is on vermonthockey.org/sledteams.
Vermont's other listed sled programs are the Central Vermont Pioneers, the Vermont Sled Cats, and Ice Vets Adaptive Sports.