Elmira Golf Club supports Jeff Snyder and Sledge Hockey Gold
The Elmira Golf Club has a close connection to the Canadian Sledge Hockey Team currently searching for Gold in Vancouver.
Jeff Snyder of Elmira has been the head coach of the Canadian Ice Sledge Hockey team since the 2002-03 season. Snyder, who has coached at various Junior A, B and C Ontario levels in his career, including a stint with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL is this week leading the Canadian team in its search for Gold at the Paralympic Games.
“I only found out about Sledge through a neighbor who had a friend playing on the team,” says Snyder. “When I lost my position with the OHL Rangers, I decided to take a few months off and away from the sport. I received a phone call right out of the blue asking about my interest in coaching Canada’s National Sledge Hockey team, and at first I wasn’t sure, as I really wasn’t very knowledgeable about the sport or the team.”
Snyder followed up the request and attended a clinic being held in Montreal where he learned a bit more about the sport. “I ran a few practices and drills at the clinic, enjoyed the experience and decided I was up for the challenge,” he added.
Snyder took over the reins of the team in the 2002-03 season, the year following the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympics.
“My daughter and I spent some time sitting in sledges and playing the game just to get a feel for the action on the ice. We found very quickly that it was not easy, particularly keeping our balance. We quickly realized that a sledge hockey player has to do everything at once, including pushing with their picks and puck handling, he said.
Snyder took the team to the Turin Games in 2006. “It was in Turin that I realized how important the Paralympic Games are to these dedicated Canadian sledge players. The Opening Ceremonies in front of 45,000 people were awesome. The most incredible moment for me was watching the raising of the Canadian flag and the playing of the national anthem following our Golf Medal win.”
“I hope every Canadian watches our team in Vancouver. These young Canadian athletes have certainly had a positive influence on my life and have helped me through some tough family losses,” he adds.
Jeff Snyder, along with other members of the Snyder family, are avid golfers and regular players at the Elmira course.
Jeremy Logel, the Director of Golf Operations at the Elmira club says, “our entire golf club is behind Jeff’s efforts with the Sledge team in Vancouver and a portion of our Play Golf for Gold Medal Dreams revenue will be donated to the team.”
- For a limited time during the 2010 Games (February 24 -27), the Golf Club will be offering 3 green fees for $99+GST. Call the club at 519.669.1652 or visit the website for details.
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