Last Saturday afternoon, in Calgary, James Gemmell of Quesnel and his Team Canada sledge hockey teammates became the World Sledge Hockey Challenge champions with a 4-1 win over the United States.
Team Canada earned a berth in the gold-medal match with a 9-2 semi-final win over Japan, following a perfect 3-0 record in round robin action, besting Japan 8-0, Norway 5-2 and the United States 3-0.
Saturday, the Quesnel Kangaroos honour Gemmell before their game against the Williams Lake Stampeders when Gemmell makes the opening puck drop.
In addition, the Quesnel Kangaroos are contributing a portion of their proceeds from the 50/50 draw to Gemmell towards the purchase of a new sledge.
“He’s playing at a very high level and we want to help him purchase a new sledge,” ‘Roos president Jack Marsh said.
The cost of a new sledge, Gemmell explained, is about $1,500 and can be higher depending if custom modifications are made.
Sledge hockey is a very physical game, such that the collisions between players can dent and bend frames, crack the buckets where the players sit or even damage the blades.
The Quesnel Kangaroos have three home games left and are donating a portion of the 50/50 draw from each game towards the purchase of a new sledge for Gemmell.
“We think it is a very good thing to do,” Marsh said.
“We encourage everyone to come out and show their support for James.”
