Led by current U.S. National Sled Hockey Team captain Josh Sweeney (Portland, Ore.) the Winterhawks Sled Hockey program aims to be a catalyst in the development of sled hockey along the West Coast. Sweeney is driving the program, currently under the Winterhawks Amateur Hockey Association, as a result of his recent relocation to Portland.

The program’s recent growth and early-stage establishments have been assisted by the Portland Winterhawks, USA Hockey the National Hockey League Players Association, and now Labatt Blue.

As a recipient of the $25,000 Sled Hockey Development Grant, presented by Labatt Blue, Sweeney and the Winterhawks will be able to afford ice time and new equipment to not only help establish a program, but hopefully foster the sport of sled hockey in the area that will hopefully culminate in the creation of a western sled hockey league that connects all the scattered sled hockey programs from Alaska to Southern California.