Power hockey, a wheelchair sport likened to rugby, is coming to Warrington in January.
A contact-based sport, power hockey sees players use power wheelchairs with specialised electric bumpers to trap and shoot hockey-sized balls.
The GB Power Hockey Association, the governing body for the disability sport of power hockey, and Warrington Wolves’ Foundation are holding a power hockey taster day at Birchwood Leisure Centre on Saturday the 11th of January between 1pm and 5pm.
The secretary of the GB Power Hockey Association, Ellis Palmer said: “I have cerebral palsy personally and would love to have played wheelchair rugby growing up, but the nature of my disability meant that I couldn’t do so, so this sport is the best alternative for me and many other electric wheelchair users who are rugby fans and who want to play a contact sport.”
Played by those who have Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or have had strokes, power hockey is deemed by Palmer to be the best rugby-alternative for electric wheelchair users.
Palmer, who also plays for the Power Hockey League at its Greenbank hub in Liverpool, said: “It’s truly open to everyone – many of our players in our hubs around the country would struggle to play wheelchair rugby league because they cannot control their limbs, but they excel at this sport.
“This is our first collaboration with a rugby league club through the Warrington Wolves Foundation and we’re really excited to introduce our fast-paced, contact power-sport to this community.”
The sport is dubbed ‘Robot Wars’ by Palmer’s Dad, but others draw comparisons between the contact-sport and bumper cars – but with wheelchairs.
While the sport will be open to everyone, the GB Power Hockey Association says that power hockey is designed for power chair users, and hoists will be provided for participants who require assistance transferring from their normal chair – but bringing a sling is recommended.
Featured image courtesy of GB Power Hockey Association
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