From sidelines to sleds: A volunteer finds his place on ice

After volunteering at the Challenge Camp, a sled hockey camp for people with physical and cognitive disabilities for two seasons, Jonah McCarthy was surprised, and excited to discover sled hockey wasn’t just for youth players. It was for him, too.  

“I found out about Belle Tire because (at the camp) I saw the kids' uniform,” said McCarthy. He then did some research on the closest team to him, and found Metro Detroit Sled Hockey’s team, Belle Tire Sled Hockey. “I saw ‘Try Sled Hockey’ and discovered it wasn’t just for kids,” said McCarthy. “It’s not just for one group of people. It’s adaptive.”

Before his dive into volunteer work and eventual discovery of sled hockey, McCarthy had played hockey when he was younger, but bone deformations in both feet and an inability to avert his left ankle made it difficult. “I played street hockey. I found a way to do it, but as I’ve aged it’s gotten worse to play. There’s no way now that I could do it,” said McCarthy.

When he got older, he had a brain tumor on his pineal gland, so he underwent a left optical craniotomy. After dealing with complications from his brain surgery, he was left with a movement disorder, making playing stand-up hockey impossible. But once he got into his sled, he had finally found his place on the ice. “It was so nice because it was smooth. It was everything you wanted it to be,” said McCarthy. 

As the 2024-2025 season was McCarthy’s first, finding his rhythm with understanding coaches and teammates was critical. “They’re really understanding. They don’t criticize,” said McCarthy. “We celebrate the victories.” But McCarthy’s support system didn’t stop at the ice. His son plays stand-up hockey, and since joining, has been a big help, coming to every practice, helping McCarthy in and out of his sled, and moving the sled in and out of the car. “It’s kind of like payback for all the times I’ve driven him to practice,” McCarthy joked. According to McCarthy, they do various activities centered around hockey together, including volunteering at the Challenge Camp. And this year, he wants to take a more inclusive approach. “This year, I’m going to volunteer in my sled so that they have someone else who is also in a sled, so that you don’t just have a bunch of people standing up,” said McCarthy.

For McCarthy, sled hockey isn’t just exercise, it’s empowerment. “It’s a great team sport, it’s a great workout, and there’s a lot of pride that goes into it. Especially if you get a goal. You remember it forever,” said McCarthy.