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Graciously bearing the name of one of the great Original Six NHL teams, the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Blackhawks Sled Hockey Team was formed in the fall of 1999 with the support of the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation. The AbilityLab Blackhawks remain a robust presence in the sled hockey arena.
The AbilityLab sled hockey program is comprised of two teams: a traveling competitive team for more advanced athletes; and a developmental team for up and coming athletes who wish to learn and develop their sled hockey skills as well as hone their talents at area competitions.
In 2018, five members of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Blackhawks Sled Hockey team were selected for Team USA to compete in the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, South Korea — that’s more players than were chosen from any other sled hockey team in the nation. On March 17, 2018, Team USA won the Gold Medal, our five heroes returning triumphantly to Chicago adorned with their medals.