Waukon teen takes part in new Coulee Region Sled Hockey League

by Amber Gericke

For a sport that isn't readily available in the immediate local area of his hometown or county of residence, ice hockey has recently provided 16-year-old Addison Schnuelle of Waukon a unique opportunity to be active and enjoy competition and camaraderie with his peers.

Addison is the son of Adam and Tanya Schnuelle of Waukon, and he can often be seen navigating the halls of Waukon High School in his wheelchair, as he is living his life with Spina Bifida. According to the Spina Bifida Association, Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States. Although a specific cause is still being researched, Spina Bifida occurs when a baby is in the womb and the spinal column does not close all of the way due to genetic and environmental factors that act together to cause the condition that can result in mobility and other body function difficulties, depending upon the severity of the condition.

Despite his limited mobility, Addison was able to take part in a sport this past winter that not many, if any at all, of his classmates or hometown friends have ever been able to participate in. He has been participating in the Coulee Region Sled Hockey League in La Crosse, WI for this past winter season with a new team called the Frost.

As one might expect with growing up in an area where ice hockey is not readily available, this season was Addison’s first experience with hockey, as he had no previous interest in the sport before. He gained interest through his orthopedic surgeon, who is instrumental in the operation of the Coulee Region Sled Hockey program. Despite his own inexperience, Addison decided to give the sport a try. Little did he know how much he would end up enjoying the sport.

“It was a fun group of people, and I’m looking forward to this next season,” Addison said. “It will be great to continue with what we have learned.”

Even though his first season came to a close about a month ago, the team will start training again once a week this summer and then in the fall those training sessions will take place twice a week in preparation for the start of the winter season once again. “This past season has been a whirlwind, but we are ready to do it all again," Addison's mother, Tanya, shared.

The sled hockey league uses all the same pads and protective gear as a regular hockey team would require. Instead of hockey skates on their feet, Addison and other participants in the league use a “sled” to get around on the ice. Underneath the seat of the sled there are skate blades, so the “sled” can glide around on the ice, much like a player would on skates.

Addison and his mother both agreed that, “getting in and out of the sled took a little bit of getting used to," but he obviously mastered that challenge as well. Addison is the only person on the team from Iowa, but that didn't prevent him from making fast friends with other members of the team, and his lack of exposure to hockey didn't prevent him from fitting into his role on the ice for the Frost.

Instead of one large hockey stick traditionally used in the game, players have two smaller hockey sticks that are a more functional size from a seated position. Those sticks also have points on the bottom of them that the players then use to propel themselves along on the ice.

“This has been an amazing experience for us," Tanya said of her son's involvement in the sled hockey league. "Through the grants they receive for the hockey league, the sleds they use and all the equipment is provided.”

There are 13 members on team Frost, all ranging in different disabilities. There can be one able-bodied person on the team to help with mobility and game flow, and the league is open to all people with disabilities, youth and adult.

This past inaugural season began in October and ended this past March. This being the team’s first year, the games didn’t all go as planned, including the last series of three. For its final series of the season the team had to travel to Madison, WI. The Frost won one game, lost one and tied another in the three-game series.

The old saying goes, "you can’t win them all," but that sure is not going to stop Addison from trying. The public is invited to come and watch any of the team's games, and Addison was fortunate to have some of his teachers and family members make the trip to La Crosse this past season to see him play, and he welcomes anyone else who may be interested to come and cheer on the Frost.

Addison will be completing his junior year at Waukon High School in about a month and will be entering his senior year next fall. As of right now, Addison says he is looking at maybe going into programing once he has completed high school. Although that decision is yet to be completely made, one thing that is for sure is the excited interest Addison now has for his newfound team and the sport of hockey.