Sled hockey has been a popular sport in the Winter Paralympic Games since making its debut at the 1994 Lillehammer Games. Sweden won the first-ever sled hockey Paralympic gold medal by defeating Norway. Team USA has been the most successful Paralympic sled hockey team to date and won its first gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Paralympic Games.

The sport is played by athletes with a physical disability in the lower limbs. Many of the sled hockey rules are similar to that of ice hockey, however, one of the major differences between the two is the equipment. In sled hockey, athletes use sleds with two hockey blades underneath that allow players to get around and carve into the ice. Each player utilizes two sticks, instead of one, to push themselves around the ice and to control the puck. The shortened sticks have a blade on one end for passing and shooting and a pick on the other end for players to propel themselves across the ice.

Similarly to ice hockey, athletes wear protective gear in sled hockey, due to the physicality of the sport. Players wear shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, padded gloves and caged helmets.

Each team has six players on the ice at one time, including the goalkeeper. Sled hockey games consist of three, 15-minute periods and intermissions in between which also last 15 minutes each.

Sled hockey at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics will take place from Saturday, March 7 to Sunday, March 15, ending with the gold medal game.

Sled hockey at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics will be held at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.

There will only be a men’s tournament for sled hockey at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics.