Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA) is bringing sled hockey to Southeastern Wisconsin through the creation of consistent and ongoing recreational opportunities for disabled athletes of all abilities and talent levels.  Currently, WASA oversees the administration and organization of multiple adaptive sports teams in the area that include wheelchair basketball, lacrosse and tennis among others.

A survey done by Dr. Kenneth Lee, Chief of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, revealed that current athletes with disabilities would like to try sled hockey, which prompted WASA to find ways to bring the sport to the community. As a recipient of the $25,000 Sled Hockey Development Grant, presented by Labatt Blue, WASA will now be able to fund  ice time, travel expenses, equipment and community outreach as a foundation for the Lightning Sled Hockey Team. The team is expected to be a combination of veterans and community athletes with disabilities that will be able to compete nationally while also developing athletes for the national and international level.

The organization’s goal is to spend the 2015-16 season developing interest through learn-to-skate clinics so that the 2016-17 season can be the inaugural season of competition, which would culminate in the team competing in the 2017 USA Disabled Hockey Festival.