UNH Hosts ‘War At The Whitt’ Sled Hockey Tourney Jan. 9
N.H.’s Northeast Passage Wildcats will Battle Maine Black Bears

Contact: Sharon Keeler
603-862-1566
UNH Media Relations

Dec. 22, 2004



DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center Arena will be the site of the first annual “War at the Whitt” sled hockey tournament Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005.     

UNH’s Northeast Passage Wildcats will host several New England teams in the tourney, including archrivals the Maine Black Bears. Other entrants include the Connecticut Chariots from Hartford and the PA Center-pedes from Pennsylvania.
         
Members of the UNH men’s hockey team will referee the games, which take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teams will play several games and the tournament winner will be determined by overall record.
     
Sled hockey is similar to traditional hockey concept and rules. The main difference is that instead of standing up on skates, participants sit on a sled, which is affixed with two skate blades. The other difference is that in sled hockey participants use two shortened hockey sticks with a blade on one end and a pick on the other end, which enables the players to propel themselves across the ice and shoot.
     
Sled hockey allows individuals with disabilities and mobility limitations to play the sport. The teams participating in War at the Whitt are comprised of players with and without disabilities.
     
“We are thrilled to finally be playing at home and having our full team together,including some exciting rookies,” says Tom Carr of Northwood, Northeast Passage Wildcats coach. “We are looking forward to a fast paced, hard hitting day of games.”
         
In addition to Carr, Ed Clark of Windham coaches the Wildcats. Players on the team include Chrystal Chalich of Durham; Aguinaldo Luis of Methuen; Jessie Nelson of Durham; PJ Giampietro of Durham; Taylor Chase of Hampton; Dan Sousa of Greenfield; Kevin Hosier of Raymond; George Treantafel  of Raymond; Soule Marzouk of Wilder, Vt.; Khrista Matthews of Ashland; and Jeff Knox of Milford, Mass.

War at the Whitt Schedule
Jan. 9, 2005
 
9 – 10 a.m                       Pennsylvannia vs. New Hampshire
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.          Maine vs. Pennsylvania
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Connecticut vs. New Hampshire
12:45 – 1:45 p.m.            Connecticut vs. Pennsylvania
2 – 3 p.m.                       Maine vs. New Hampshire
  
Editors:
A digital photo is available for download at the Website: http://www.unh.edu/img/sledhockey.jpg.