By Erin Kayata
It’s easy to get behind a good hockey team. Just ask any Husky who’s been to the men’s or women’s Beanpot tournaments.
This is partially why Northeastern University professor Luke Brisbin spends his free time working with Boston I.C.E. Storm’s sled hockey teams.
Sled hockey is an adaptive form of ice hockey. In sled hockey, players are seated in a sled with a blade at the bottom and glide across the ice using a pick. They also navigate the puck using a modified hockey stick.
Despite the difference in equipment, sled hockey promises all the intensity of standup hockey, down to the raucous nature.
When I.C.E. Storm players find themselves on the receiving end of a body check, Brisbin awaits them on the benches. When the assistant clinical professor of physical therapy at Northeastern isn’t teaching or working, he’s volunteering with this adaptive hockey team for players with physical disabilities.
“As a physical therapist (I want) to promote physical activity and especially promote physical activity for people who may have barriers to it,” Brisbin said. “Any time that I could support an organization that’s trying to provide those opportunities for people, I definitely want to be a part of it.”