“I played soccer through college, so this was similar to me as far as positioning, zones, areas you’re covering and rotating through spots,†Suozzo said. A lot of it seems to be quite common between the two sports at least for me, from what I can see.â€
Aside from the similarities between the two sports, sled hockey also filled that competitive urge for Suozzo, who now lives in Las Vegas.
Suozzo was immediately frustrated that the larger width of his skate blade deterred him from making sharp turns, but he adjusted. Players had trouble handling a puck at Suozzo’s first learn-to-play clinic, so they used a beach ball during a scrimmage.
Teammates and friends were kind enough to offer supplies like sleds, sticks, gloves and more, but he eventually purchased his own equipment.
“It was a lot of fun, so I kept going with it,†Suozzo said. “It’s tiring and there’s more strain on your upper body. It’s tough keeping your wind. But it’s the enjoyment of playing and being able to move. It’s feeling your heartbeat and sweating. You feel like you’re semi-normal.â€
Even while facing off against players 50 years younger at a national tournament.
“It’s tough competing with the children,†Suozzo said. “Some of those 18- and 19-year-olds can run down the ice and make me look like I’m standing still. It’s tough. There are quite a few that are exceptionally fast. It was good. It was fun.â€
Suozzo has no plans to slow down either, as he prepares to turn 70 later this year.
“I love the workout, I enjoy athletics,†Suozzo said. “It’s enjoyment, going out there, being exhausted and coming away with something like a win or a good game. I’m going to keep going as long as I can and as long as I’m not a detriment to the team. I enjoy the group and I’m amazed at the capabilities of people in wheelchairs and people who are double amputees. I see prosthetics and wheelchairs lined up along the boards and for me it was motivation. Those are people who don’t stop and they’re not sitting around and whining.â€
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
