Sled hockey benefit aids local team

A smile spreads quickly over Veren Betzen's cold, red cheeks.

Today is a special day for him because he gets to be on the ice. On the ice, he can be just like all the other boys, playing a game he loves.

Sled hockey has given kids such as Veren a chance most have never had: the chance to be on a sports team.

Veren is 13 and has cerebral palsy. He gets around using his wheelchair and his sled.

This weekend, members of the Colorado Springs Police and Fire Department will team up for a "Guns and Hoses" sled hockey game to benefit the local youth sled hockey team that Veren plays on. It will be hosted by the Colorado Springs Sled Hockey Association.

Teresa Lundquist handles marketing for the CSSHA team. Her son, 10-year-old Vlad, is also a member of the Colorado Springs youth team. He has been a bilateral, below-the-knee amputee since age 4.

"I like going fast on the ice, it makes me feel like I'm flying," Vlad said.

Proceeds from the "Guns and Hoses" game will go toward buying new equipment and other expenses. "Each sled costs $600," Lundquist said.

Sled hockey was invented in Sweden in the early '60s so those with physical disabilities could enjoy hockey. The object of the game is the same as in regular hockey, but each player sits on a sled 4 inches above the ice on skate blades.

The player is fastened to the sled with Velcro straps and uses two shortened hockey sticks to propel down the ice and hit the puck. If players can't propel themselves, someone pushes them.

The local youth team has 12 players. Being a part of the team has given a much-needed boost to the players and their parents, participants said.

The CSSHA's youth sled hockey program is open to kids ages 7 and older with a disability. The team practices September through early June.

The club hopes to open a program for adults with disabilities, including the Wounded Warriors, a local disabled veterans group.

For more information about the local sled hockey program, call Gary Smith at 331-1423, Teresa Lundquist at 382-5013, or Verlene Betzen at 532-0183, or go to www.cssha.org.

GUNS & HOSES SLED HOCKEY BENEFIT

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sertich Ice Center
Tickets: On sale at King Soopers stores or ticketswest.com,
1-866-464-2626