Following the first ever U.S. Women’s Sled Hockey Development Camp in August, Minnesota natives Brynn Duncan (Moorhead, MN) and Hannah Hughes (Rochester, MN) were selected to the U.S. Women’s Sled Hockey Team.

The 17-player team will reconvene Sept. 23-25 in Voorhees, N.J., for its first training camp of the season. This season they are scheduled to compete in exhibition matchups against sled hockey teams around the country including the Florida Sled Hockey Team, Connecticut Sled Hockey Team and U.S. Developmental Sled Hockey Team, as well as a trip to Norway.

Duncan, who at 15 years old is still one of the youngest players on the team, is one of 12 returning players. The new players to the team include two forwards, both goalies and Hughes, who will be the only addition on the blue line.

For both young athletes, making the U.S. Women’s Sled Hockey Team has been a dream come true.

“Going from never thinking I would play a sport again to getting to do this is incredible,” said Hughes, who started playing sled hockey after losing a leg to cancer at age 16. “I am so excited to continue to grow as a player and have the opportunity to play this sport at such a high level.”

In an interview Moorhead news station WDAY last year, Duncan echoed that sentiment, noting the impact the game of sled hockey has made on her life:

“My new life is just beginning with everything I’m doing now, and it's just so fun.”

For most people simply making a national team after having to deal with such adversity would be a lifetime achievement, but Duncan and Hughes, who won the 2014 Minnesota Disabled Hockey Scholarship, are already setting their sights on an even higher goal.

“I hope that the sport continues to grow, and makes its way into the Paralympics,” said Hughes. “We are hopeful that it will be a full medal sport by the 2022 games!”

For the full U.S. Women’s Sled Hockey Team roster, click here.

Danny Lilya Attends Men’s Sled Development Camp

Earlier this summer, another Minnesota Disabled Hockey Scholarship (2016) honoree made it to the national stage in sled hockey. Danny Lilya (Moose Lake, MN) used the scholarship to purchase a new sled, which he used at the 2016 National Sled Hockey Development Camp in Buffalo, NY this July. Lilya currently plays on the Minnesota Wild Sled Hockey Team and is hoping to become the first Minnesota native to make the U.S. Men’s Sled Hockey Team.

The U.S. Men’s Sled Hockey team has significantly increased the public awareness and understanding of sled hockey with their success in recent years. They’ve won the past five major international sled hockey competitions including back-to-back gold medals in the 2010 and 2014 Paralympics.

Lilya is also set to be honored as the 2016 Military Kid of the Year by the United Heroes League in a gala on Saturday, September 17th at Target Field.