Josh Pauls, a veteran member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, stepped onto the rink of the Chelsea Challenge in New York, an LGBTQ+ focused adult hockey tournament that celebrates diversity and inclusion.
Having guided his national team to a fifth consecutive Paralympic gold medal earlier this year, Pauls described the atmosphere of the Chelsea Challenge as uniquely exhilarating, noting that the camaraderie and openness of the event surpassed the intensity of the Paralympic Games.
Beyond the Rink: A Vision for Inclusive Hockey
The tournament, which featured two sled hockey squads of roughly twenty players each, marked the first time the competition incorporated sled hockey players, allowing Pauls to suit up for both Double Sticking and Stonewall Sledders. It was also his inaugural experience at a Pride hockey gathering, a moment he said deepened his appreciation for the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes.
The NHL’s outreach to Pauls this season underscored the event’s rising profile, and while he acknowledged a few missteps in pronouns, he emphasized that respectful correction without anger reflects the spirit of allyship he wishes to model.
Wearing Pride tape on his stick, Pauls sees his participation as part of a broader mission to foster welcoming environments across hockey, a goal he believes is achievable through continued advocacy and the openness he has observed within the sled hockey community.