EVENDALE, Ohio — An Ohio-based sled hockey team is celebrating 15 years of producing some of the best players in the country.
The Cincinnati IceBreakers work out of Sports Plus in Evendale. They work with players of all ages and abilities who would have trouble standing on skates, everyone from amputee military veterans to kids with spina bifida, a condition of the spine that affects walking.
What You Need To Know
- Cincinnati IceBreakers brings together adaptive hockey players of all ages and abilities at Sports Plus outside Cincinnati for sled hockey
- The nonprofit loans all of the sled hockey components free of charge to first-year players
- The team travels to play other sled hockey teams across the country
- Some IceBreakers have been selected to the U.S. Sled Hockey National Team
Two of their players just made the U.S. National team, Ben Musselman and Jamie Benassi. Her father, Tom, said Jamie, 18, was hooked on the icebreakers after her very first practice six years ago.
“Her eyes were as big as saucers and she had an absolute blast,” Benassi said. “She knew at that time that she had found a sport for herself.”
Jackson Elsea, 11, also knew he wanted to be part of the team after his first time on the ice.
“The sport’s super fun,” Jackson said. Now, Jackson and Jamie get to travel with the team all over the country.
“I didn’t know how much he was going to be able to do with his disability so seeing him strive with this has been great,” Elsea said.
Jamie’s dad teared up talking about how much the Icebreakers mean to his daughter and their family.
“To see her out there, being just a regular hockey player is an incredible experience,” Benassi said. “The Icebreaker organization has definitely changed her life and ours too so we’re very thankful.”
Benassi said he has also seen how the team has improved his daughter’s life off the ice.
“It’s definitely changed her,” Benassi said. “She’s definitely more outgoing and more confident absolutely more confident. It’s awesome.”