“Try sled hockey” event sparked over two decades of leadership, passion, and growth

Rico Vitelli, 42, grew up loving hockey. He went to his cousin’s hockey games with his aunt and uncle, and would play goalie with the kids playing street hockey in the neighborhood. But one “Try Sled Hockey” event sparked his future in adaptive sports. 

Sled hockey allowed Vitelli to play hockey when his disability, spina bifida, had previously limited him. “When I saw sled hockey, I realized that this was my opportunity to play a sport that I never knew I would be able to play otherwise, and I didn't have to limit myself to just playing goalie this time,” said Vitelli. “We enjoyed it (“Try Sled Hockey”) so much that we came back out again. Word spread and more people started coming out. Eventually, we formed the first-ever adult sled hockey team in Metro Detroit, the Michigan Sled Dogs.” 

But the work didn’t stop after the formation of the Michigan Sled Dogs. Over the years the number of players started dwindling, and without enough players, it was harder to play. Vitelli said that the hardest part was not only growing the team, but the sport as well. Despite the setbacks the Michigan Sled Dogs faced, they persevered and continued to make things work.

During the 2022-2023 season when the Michigan Sled Dogs joined Metro Detroit Sled Hockey and became a Belle Tire Sled Hockey team, new opportunities opened. “We now have many practices throughout the season and ice time is no longer a problem,” said Vitelli. They also added another adult team, and joined a youth team and novice team, providing opportunities for a wider range of players. “We also now have the leadership in place that I feel will not only grow the future of Belle Tire but grow the game of sled hockey as well.” 

Vitelli said that when he met Derek Donet, the current president of Metro Detroit Sled Hockey, their visions for the future of sled hockey were shared, leading to Vitelli still playing today. “I came so close many times to just leaving the game behind. But it's too hard to just leave. Over time, sled hockey became more than just a game to me. It became a passion. I would think back on the days where my aunt and uncle took me to watch my cousin play and I would remind myself how much I love this game... and this team,” said Vitelli. 

The trials the assistant captain has faced in his 21 years of sled hockey have contributed greatly to the team. “I have the experience that I feel helps me to be able to jump in and play almost any role that the team needs me to play in order to succeed,” said Vitelli. One role he actively takes is being a positive role model on the team. “It's a long season, and sometimes it gets tough. We have to rely on each other to help us get through the tough times, and I try to help encourage my teammates to keep working hard through them.”

To Vitelli, sled hockey is more than just a sport. If sled hockey can improve one person’s life and provide them a sense of community, imagine how it could improve others. “Sled hockey has changed my life in immeasurable ways. It gave me a way to fuel my competitive personality and to become an athlete. It gave me an opportunity to play a game that, with my disability, I would have never been able to play otherwise,” said Vitelli.