Amid the sharp sounds of blades on ice and the dry thud of sticks, the Para Ice Hockey ignites spectators' spirits with all its energy and spectacularity. In Milan Cortina 2026, the sport will once again be one of the most anticipated and adrenaline-filled events of the Winter Paralympics.
The ice, cold and slippery, becomes a battlefield and a stage for paralympic athletes extraordinaire, who take to the track to challenge limits and opponents with courage, technique and team spirit.
What is Para Ice Hockey
Known until a few years ago as "sledge field hockey," the Para Ice Hockey is the Paralympic version of ice hockey, which originated in Sweden in the 1960s and became an official discipline of the Paralympic Games in 1994.
Athletes compete on sleds equipped with skids and use two short sticks, with a dual function: on the one hand they are used to hit the puck (puck), and on the other to propel themselves on the ice thanks to metal spikes placed at the end.
The rules follow those of traditional field hockey, but adapted to make the discipline accessible to athletes with lower-limb disabilities. Each team consists of 6 players (including the goalie), and games are played over three halves of 15 minutes each.
Milan Cortina 2026: The Santa Giulia Ice for Paralympic Hockey.
The setting chosen to host the Para Ice Hockey in Milan Cortina 2026 is the new Santa Giulia Ice Palace, a state-of-the-art facility located in the southeastern area of the Lombard capital. Modern, accessible and multifunctional, it will be one of the symbols of Milan's Olympic legacy.
The arena will accommodate thousands of fans and will be equipped with:
- Accessible grandstands for people with disabilities,
- big screens and high-definition sound systems,
- Changing rooms and technical areas designed for sleds and wheelchairs,
- fan zones and spaces for families and schoolchildren.
The atmosphere will be that of the great arenas: choirs, lights, national anthems and riveting clashes between the world's top teams.
The Protagonists and National Teams in Competition.
The competing teams come from countries where Para Ice Hockey is a true institution: Canada, United States, Norway, South Korea, and the surprising Italy, which aims to improve on its already excellent past performance.
The blue team, led by veterans such as Andrea Macri and young emerging talents, trains with passion and determination, ready to fight each record as if it were his last.
The tournament is a concentration of shots, accelerations, breathtaking saves and shots on the edge of physics. It is not uncommon to witness epic comebacks or victories decided in the final seconds.
More than One Sport: Power, Inclusion and Brotherhood
Para Ice Hockey is a sport where. physical strength blends with technical skill and where each contrast tells the story of athletes who have overcome injuries, illnesses, or birth conditions.
The emotional impact for the viewer is enormous. It is not just about the game: it is pure resilience, è real inclusion, è passion in its raw state.
Milan Cortina 2026 will be an opportunity to introduce the sport also to the general Italian public, which is often unfamiliar with its spectacularity.
Tickets and How to Participate
Tickets for Para Ice Hockey games will be available at the official website milanocortina2026.org. Advance reservations are recommended due to the expected high turnout, especially for the semifinals and finals.
Each ticket will also include free transportation on public transportation Milanese on event days and access to fan village, food and merchandising areas.
An Ice That Speaks to the Heart
Every puck played in Para Ice Hockey is not just a point, but a statement of strength, a testimony to inclusion, a victory for all. On the ice, differences melt away, leaving room only for play, respect and the beauty of real sport.
In Milan Cortina 2026, Para Ice Hockey promises to be one of the signature events of the Paralympics. A sport to live, to cheer, to tell. Because when the soul is great, no ice can be too hard.
Italiano 
English 
Русский 
Français 
Deutsch 
简体中文 