First-ever sledge hockey tournament for Cape Breton

The coach of Cape Breton's only sledge hockey team hopes a tournament in Sydney this weekend will help grow the sport.

The Cape Breton Sledgehammers will compete against the Halifax Sledge Grinders and the P.E.I. Icebreakers in a five-game series.

All games will be at Centre 200, beginning at noon on Saturday.

Sledgehammers coach Steve Deveaux said the Sledgehammers were created after a demonstration in 2009.

"I have a son with a disability and he actually pushed us for probably two years prior to our demo to do it," he said. "He saw sledge hockey, he always wanted to play hockey — he was a hockey nut. We had four players come out to the initial session, and we said 'Let's go.'"

'No matter how you play it, it's still hockey'

The team has 15 players now, including men and women. Some are disabled, some are not.

Deveaux said once they're in the sledge, everyone's equal.

"No matter how you say it, it's still hockey. No matter how you play it, it's still hockey," he said.

Deveaux plays "regular" hockey and describes sledge hockey as much more challenging.

"I'd rather be on skates, let me tell you," he said. "They put me in the sledge and they laugh at me because I can't do it. I'm much better as a coach."

Deveaux believes many more people could benefit from joining the team.

"They'll love the sport," he said, "and if I can get them in a sledge the first time, I know I can keep them. But it's that fear to get started.

"I think if they come out this weekend and they get an opportunity to see the different types of players that are on the ice, I think they'd realize that this sport is for them."