DICKINSON — The high school hockey seasons in Dickinson may be finished, but there was still activity on the ice Sunday afternoon at the West River Ice Center.
Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, a non-profit organization based out of Minot, came down to the Queen City for an afternoon of sled hockey for youth and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
The organization was founded in 2016, striving to give everyone an opportunity to play sports and other recreational activities. The sled hockey on Sunday was just one of many events Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports puts on throughout the year.
The non-profit was founded by Chad Thompson and his wife Angie, who live in Minot. This idea was inspired by one of their four sons, Palmer. He was born with spina bifida, and Chad found it hard to find sports and recreational activities in the area for him to do. His other three sons could play sports, but not Palmer.
So he took it upon himself to start Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, which has given youth and adults with physical and mental disabilities to experience sports and other recreational activities.
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Anyone, from five years old to adult, can participate. Sled hockey isn’t the only thing they take part in. This year already they have held swimming, gymnastics, and martial arts events. Parents and volunteers were on hand to help out with Sunday’s event.
A part of the sled hockey on Sunday was Tyler Webber of Dickinson. He was a member of the Dickinson hockey program growing up, but after an accident in 2008, was left unable to compete in hockey.
He was joined by members of his family on Sunday as he enjoyed a skate around the rink, assisted by members of the Dickinson Hockey Club, the Dickinson Outlaws.
His mother, Ronda, pushed him along as well, ecstatic to see her son back on the ice. She said he was able to do some skiing in Bottineau the weekend prior, and was glad to see her son able to participate in these activities.
Some participants strolled around the ice on their sled, while others were able to knock around a puck with others on the ice.
To learn more about Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, visit their website at www.prairiegritsports.com.
