Sled hockey event supports adaptive sports association

The Lake Forest College Athletics Department, in conjunction with the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, will host the fourth annual “The Sleds Are Coming” event from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse on the school’s campus.

Admission is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged in order to support GLASA.

The purpose of “The Sleds Are Coming” is to bring campus and community exposure to GLASA and showcase its sled hockey program, while raising funds for the GLASA Falcons sled hockey team and other athletic programs. The Falcons, coached by retired Lake Forest men’s hockey coach Tony Fritz, was the 2013 Adult B National Champions.

This year’s event will honor 2001 Lake Forest College graduate JJ O’Connor for his personal and professional accomplishments.

O’Connor sustained a spinal cord injury several years ago in a hockey game while attending Loyola Academy. Today, he is a franchise business owner and chairman of USA Disabled Hockey. He spends most of his time promoting adaptive sports in the United States and sled hockey worldwide.

O’Connor is the captain of GLASA’s Power Soccer Team.

The Chicago Blackhawks mascot Tommy Hawk will lead the “red” team in cheers and the Chicago Wolves mascot Skates will lead the “white” team.

Volunteers from Lake Forest College and Lake Forest High School will fill the stands with many others from the surrounding community and cheer on the GLASA athletes.

This year, the game will feature the GLASA Falcons competing against each other. The competition on the ice will consist of two 15-minute periods of 8-on-8 sled hockey.

In addition to the game, there will be raffle prizes, including four Alumni Box Seats for a Chicago Blackhawks game and a Blackhawks jersey autographed by the 2013 Stanley Cup Championship Team, and a Chuck-A-Puck competition.

For more information, contact Kerry Van Malderghem at (847) 735-5285 or vanmalderghem@lakeforest.edu.