News
The 2018-2019 edition of the USA Hockey Sled Classic will feature 30 NHL associated sled hockey teams. The ninth edition of the event, hosted by the Chicago Blackhawks and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, will take place February 7-10, 2019 at MB Ice Arena, the practice facility and community rink of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Story at a Glance
Annual Tournament
Sled Hockey Teams participating
attendees, including players, volunteers and the general public
Graciously bearing the name of one of the great Original Six NHL teams, the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Blackhawks Sled Hockey Team was formed in the fall of 1999 with the support of the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation. The AbilityLab Blackhawks remain a robust presence in the sled hockey arena.
The AbilityLab sled hockey program is comprised of two teams: a traveling competitive team for more advanced athletes; and a developmental team for up and coming athletes who wish to learn and develop their sled hockey skills as well as hone their talents at area competitions.
In 2018, five members of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Blackhawks Sled Hockey team were selected for Team USA to compete in the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, South Korea — that’s more players than were chosen from any other sled hockey team in the nation. On March 17, 2018, Team USA won the Gold Medal, our five heroes returning triumphantly to Chicago adorned with their medals.
At the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s (AONL) recent 2024 conference, a pair of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab nursing leaders were honored: Sharon Rangel, associate chief nursing officer, and Lindsay Hong, nurse manager, 24th Floor.
view all newsA recent story on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight program highlighted the next generation of bionic limbs being developed at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The story featured Terry Karpowicz, a Chicago sculptor who has used prosthetics since losing his right leg in a motorcycle accident in 1975.