Adaptive Hockey Thrives at Reno Ice, by Cece Arroyo

Adaptive Hockey Thrives at Reno Ice, by Cece Arroyo

From Reynolds HotBox by Reynolds Media Lab

May 4, 2026 · 9 min · Episode 291

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of sled hockey and the adaptive sports program at Reno Ice.

The city of Reno began its adaptive sports program in 2008, and since Reno Ice first opened in January 2021, they have been an integral part of that program. Sled hockey is an adaptive sport where players use specialized sleds that sit on top of two hockey blades, along with two special hockey sticks with teeth on the ends to help players propel themselves along the ice. It is also one of the first hockey programs developed at Reno Ice. The sled hockey club in Reno has been a very important part of Reno Adaptive and Reno Ice since its beginning, and it is just as important to the players on the club. Sled hockey gives people of all abilities the opportunity to play hockey, and at Reno Ice no experience is necessary and all equipment is provided, so players can come learn the ropes of the sport. Reno is still a small city, especially in the world of hockey. With only one ice rink, and only one team, players need to travel far to be competitive. Adrian Nicholas, the assistant hockey director and sled hockey coach at Reno Ice, told me about the current competitive state of the club: “It's the same idea as the kids where we have to travel or host, and we were able to set up some…

Topics covered

  • adaptive sports
  • sled hockey
  • community engagement
  • Reno Ice
  • inclusivity in sports

Keywords

  • adaptive hockey
  • Reno Ice
  • sled hockey
  • inclusive sports
  • Adrian Nicholas

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Reno Ice, USA hockey

Places: Reno, Mammoth

More episodes of Reynolds HotBox

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Reynolds HotBox podcast page.