Two teams scrimmage using half of the rink.
Wheelchairs slam into each other, bump into each other, and crash into the wooden planks that line the rink. The stick clatters and hits the wheelchair. Players shoot lacrosse balls from all directions. It’s about the size of a small orange, but it’s made of dense rubber.
And it moves—fast.
Fast enough to put this reporter in their mouths once, many laughed. (Yes, it hurt. Yes, I was paying attention. Really fast.)
For Daniel Hirsch, it was the speed that drew him to the game. he was used to it. he needed it.
“I watched the game and noticed the speed, the pace and the physicality.”
Hirsch was looking for new ways to find that speed.
“I was racing competitive motocross and had a spinal cord injury. A T6 injury is at my level. I can’t,” said Hersh.
“I went home and started looking for wheelchair lacrosse.”
Hirsch had never played lacrosse before his injury. But like many, wheelchair lacrosse gave him his second chance to play and compete at a high level.
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver WrightHersh’s search led him to Wheelchair Lacrosse USA, which was still in its infancy at the time. He brought the sport to Colorado and founded Rolling Mammoth. Hirsch said the team began recruiting through his youth camps and clinics, including Craig Hospital, which specializes in neurorehabilitation.
The team gave new people a chance to play lacrosse and gave people like Sean Maloney a second chance.
“I’ve been out of the game for a while. I didn’t know this existed,” Maloney said. “I went to the clinic and was hooked. It’s the same game I’ve always played. We’re only in wheelchairs.”
Maloney overlooks practice and shouts coaching tips while propped up by a cane. She Maloney is a lacrosse enthusiast. He played in high school and captained his lacrosse team on his college field in Colorado. However, his playing days came to an end when his bad fall fractured his back and left him paralyzed from the waist down.
So he had to adapt his life, including adapting his sport.
“There aren’t a lot of options for adaptive team sports. Wheelchair basketball is very popular, and wheelchair rugby is very popular,” says Maloney.
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver WrightWheelchair lacrosse was invented in San Diego in 2009.
Lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America. It was invented centuries ago by the Eastern Woodlands Native Americans of the United States and Canada. Today’s version is more like indigenous stickball.
There are two versions of the sport: field lacrosse, which is played outdoors, and box lacrosse, which is played indoors.
But the idea for wheelchair lacrosse originated in Colorado.
Ryan Baker is one of the creators of the sport. The day after high school graduation in 1991, he and his family were moving from San Diego to Steamboat His Springs when he was involved in a car accident. The accident left Baker paraplegic.
“It was like baptism by fire,” said Baker, who lived in Steamboat Springs for 10 years and Denver for 10 years before returning to California.
“I just got injured and it’s pretty good to live in a place where it snows seven to eight months a year,” Baker said with a healthy dose of positivity. “
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver Wright
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver WrightWhile in Denver, he took up wheelchair tennis and happened to meet the lacrosse coach at Regis High School through a trainer.
“Interestingly, I just thought a lacrosse stick shouldn’t be that different from a tennis racket,” said Baker. “Of course it’s a little longer, but the mechanics and mechanics are the same.”
“I just thought how interesting it would be if there was an element of wheelchair lacrosse and an offering for athletes with disabilities.”
Back in San Diego, Baker and friend Bill Lundstrom started throwing the ball.
Soon others joined in and the sport was born. They began holding clinics across California to teach others the rules and techniques of the game.
The game is played on a roller hockey rink or a hard surface lacrosse rink. Each team has 8 players: 1 goalkeeper, 2 defenders, 3 midfielders and 2 attackers. Each team must always have his 3 players on the defensive side and his 2 players on the offensive side. Game time is 4 quarters of 15 minutes for him.
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver Wright
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver WrightIn terms of equipment, the wheelchairs are similar to those used in wheelchair basketball. Lacrosse sticks must be at least 40 inches long and defensive poles up to 50 inches long. Defensive poles, at any given time, he can only have two on the court.
The replacement is done in-place, which improves speed. Players must go to the penalty box for infractions, just like in hockey.
Also, the sport is so widespread that teams are allowed three able-bodied players to play with equipment, including wheelchairs, to further expand.
Rolling Mammoth goalkeeper Steve Kurtsen is one of them. He played for his lacrosse team at the University of Northern Colorado club, which Hirsch was coaching.
“I think it’s because of the lower angle, but it’s a little faster,” says Kurtsen after taking a series of shots. “There are some[shots]that will catch you in a sore soft spot. Much more physical than field lacrosse.”
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver Wrightmiles from the coast
The word spread from Southern California to Hirsch in the Rocky Mountains around 2013.
A year later, the first wheelchair lacrosse clinic was held in Colorado Springs. As part of the infirmary, Hersh was able to retain some of the equipment that helped recruit and build the team.
From there it began to take off, attracting disabled and able-bodied athletes of diverse backgrounds in Denver.
Alison Brown is one of the few female Rolling Mammoths. Growing up she played lacrosse. After multiple surgeries and constant leg pain, Brown opted to amputate her left leg six years ago. Wheelchair lacrosse is the first season this year.
“I play sled hockey. I play archery with one of the players on my team. And now lacrosse, because I loved the sport even before I became disabled,” Brown said. rice field. “I wish more women would come and visit us.”
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver Wright
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver WrightAnother reason for the growth of sports in Denver is the strong relationship between the rolling mammoths and the professional Colorado mammoths. Most wheelchair lacrosse teams are based in markets that have professional indoor lacrosse teams. In Denver, Kroenke Sports sponsors most adaptive sports teams. As such, they share professional team names, including the Rolling Nuggets wheelchair basketball team, the Rolling Rapids Power soccer team, and the Colorado sled hockey team. Uniform similar to Avalanche.
“Luckily here in Colorado, a lot of adaptive sports are paired with Kroenke sports,” said Hirsch.
And Rolling Mammoth faced a professional opponent in scrimmage.
“We put some of their (mammoth) players in chairs so they could get a feel for it,” Hersh said.
Mammoth goaltender Dillon Howard, who was named National Lacrosse League Finals MVP last season after leading the Mammoths to their second NLL championship, says the experience is humbling.
“We definitely feel like we have stick skills. But whenever there’s competition for the ball and something to do with the chair, we’re at a complete disadvantage.” I almost feel like I’m playing in the mud.They are great athletes.”
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver Wright
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver WrightRolling Mammoth’s local success has expanded to the national stage.
The Wheelchair Lacrosse USA Nationals will be held twice in the Denver area in 2018 and 2022. In 2021, the Rolling Mammoths defeated the Milwaukee Eagles to win the title.
Hirsch was thrilled to see the tournament return to Aurora this year and defend her title in front of her hometown crowd.
“I love having competitions here. It’s great,” said Hirsch.
The home team did not disappoint either.
The Rolling Mammoth finished the first day of the tournament undefeated in a round robin. Day two ended with a rematch against Milwaukee in the championship game.
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver WrightThe Rolling Mammoths won 6-2 to clinch their second straight title.
“I think the whole tournament was great,” said Hersh. “We’ve grown. We got off to a bit of a rough start, but we grew over the weekend and put it together. So I couldn’t be happier.”
Hirsch hopes this year’s win will help further promote wheelchair lacrosse in Colorado.
“We look forward to continuing to grow and gaining more players. If we add a team or two, that would be great. That would be an ideal goal,” said Hirsch. I was. “It’s a great year for the lacrosse team here in Colorado.”
And Hirsch is right about it. Last week’s win means she’s won three lacrosse titles in two years, between mammoths and rolling mammoths. For a championship-loving city, this is his seventh national victory this year.
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver Wright
Kevin J. Beattie/Denver Wright.
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