A rugby-like sport played using electric wheelchairs is set to be tried out by a rugby league club’s community arm.
Power hockey is a sport played using power wheelchairs with a specialised electric bumper which can trap and shoot a hockey-sized ball. The contact-based power-sport is primarily played by people who have Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or have had strokes.
You may be thinking of hockey including sticks, well, this one isn't. Ellis Palmer, the GB Power Association's secretary, explains that:
"We use power chairs and we have attached a specialized front bumper on where the two metal footplates are to use to move the ball"
"it's designed so people with quite severe cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy have quite limited body movement are able to play the sport."
The GB Power Hockey Association and Warrington Wolves’ Foundation are holding a taster day at Birchwood Leisure Centre and will take place between 13:00pm and 17:00pm on Saturday 11 January.
The GB Power Hockey Association is the governing body for the disability sport of power hockey and The Warrington Wolves Foundation aims to provide quality, accessible, sporting and physical opportunities by using the Wolves brand to develop lifelong interest in sport.
Ellis goes on to say that his dad calls it 'Robot Wars' and added:
"Other people liken it to bumper cars such is the nature of the game. It’s the most rugby-like sport I’ve had the opportunity to participate in as an electric wheelchair user.”
“I have cerebral palsy personally and would love to have played wheelchair rugby growing up, but the nature of my disability meant that I couldn’t do so, so this sport is the best alternative for me and many other electric wheelchair users who are rugby fans and who want to play a contact sport”.
“We’re really excited to bring the taster day to the community here in Warrington and Birchwood. This is our first collaboration with a rugby league club through the Warrington Wolves Foundation and we’re really excited to introduce our fast-paced, contact power-sport to this community.”
“It’s truly open to everyone - many of our players in our hubs around the country would struggle to play wheelchair rugby league because they cannot control their limbs, but they excel at this sport.”
Ellis, who plays in the Power Hockey League for its Greenbank (Liverpool) hub, said.
It’s going to be open to everyone, but the sport is specifically designed for powerchair users. If participants require assistance transferring from their normal chair, the GB Power Hockey Association will be providing a hoist, but they should bring their own sling.
However, if you want to give the sport a go, and are not in or around the Warrington area, there are hubs at the following places - Liverpool, Durham, Teesside, Burton, Staffordshire, Gloucester and Cardiff. Just email or call Ellis - details below - and he will direct you to them.
You can also find them on social media on the following platforms - their website https://www.gbpowerhockey.org/, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @GBPowerHockey, search GB Power Chair Hockey Assocation on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
For more information or to find out more about the taster day, please contact epalmer.gbpowerhockey@gmail.com or text 0797 29 28 929.
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