<![CDATA[WSF NEW YORK SLED RANGERS

<![CDATA[WSF NEW YORK SLED RANGERS - Blog]]>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:12:00 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Sled Rangers At USA Development Camp]]>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 01:59:06 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/sled-rangers-at-usa-development-camp

So proud of Nick, Jake, Gabe, and Timmy. You guys are absolute stars!

]]><![CDATA[Our Own Ailin Zheng Featured at USA Hockey]]>Tue, 27 May 2025 23:19:35 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/our-own-ailin-zheng-featured-at-usa-hockey

https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1339880

Once Ailin Zheng Tried Sled Hockey, She Never Wanted to Stop Playing
By Jason Stromberg, 05/27/25, 1:00PM EDT

A friend in elementary school helped change Ailin Zheng’s life forever when she was 10 years old.

Zheng’s friend, Max, played sled hockey, and his parents asked Zheng if she would like to go to a local rink in Queens, New York, and try the sport.

That invitation came four years after Zheng had been diagnosed with transverse myelitis — a rare neurological condition caused by inflammation in the spinal cord — which left her paralyzed from the waist down.

Zheng’s parents were “a little bit iffy,” she said of her playing, “but once I got out there, I realized I wanted to keep playing.”

Not only did Zheng keep playing, but she became a local star for the Northeast Passage Wildcats team at the University of New Hampshire.

“They have a really good sled hockey program. There have been a lot of athletes that train for the national team there,” Zheng, 21, said. “I remember I wanted to play at the highest level, so I just kept working hard, and eventually got to where I wanted to be.”

Zheng has been playing at the highest level the sport has to offer since she participated in the inaugural Women’s World Challenge in 2022. In fact, she made history by scoring the first goal in that event’s history while playing for Team World, a squad that included players from a variety of countries.

Zheng eventually earned her way onto the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team, helping the Americans win their third straight Women’s World Challenge in 2024.
Throughout her international experiences, Zheng hopes to honor her Asian heritage and continue to see the sport grow around the world.

“Celebrating Asians in USA Hockey is an important opportunity to honor the history, culture and contributions of our heritage and the different natives, heritages and communities in our sport,” Zheng said. “It’s going to help create more access for other communities to have other players seen and supported. Right now, we are trying to grow the sport in other countries to be able to compete in the Paralympics. The men’s team is in, the women’s team isn’t. That’s a common goal.”

Catherine Faherty plays with Zheng on the Wildcats and on the U.S. development team. Faherty pointed out that almost nothing can take away Zheng’s joy when she’s one the ice.

“She’s always positive, always smiling and laughing. She brings great energy,” Faherty, 20, said. “She even comes out of taking hits on the ice with a smile. Anyone that knows her would say that.”

Faherty not only admires Zheng on the ice, but off it as well. Zheng graduated from New Hampshire this year with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Faherty, who just finished her sophomore year, is going for the same degree at UMass Lowell.

“She’s a great teammate on and off the ice,” Faherty said. “She’s been a person that I can look up to. Being a part of the same nursing school is really cool because I can ask her questions. She’s more than willing to help out with school and hockey.”

Matt McGilvray has been coaching the Wildcats program since August 2014. He vividly remembers when Zheng suited up for him for the first time.

“She was coming whether we liked it or not,” McGilvray said. “She showed up at one of our practices four years ago as a freshman and we didn’t know a whole lot about her before she got here. We just know that former players who recommended her said that she could play.”

Zheng was fully prepared for college life, as she had her living situation and classes all detailed out on a spreadsheet. On the ice, though, McGilvray noticed how nervous she was.

“When she first got on the ice, she had that deer in the headlights look,” McGilvray said. “This was a step up from what she was accustomed to on the club level. Once she gained confidence, she picked up everything pretty quick and belonged. She’s the youngest kid we ever had.”

Zheng’s favorite hockey memories vary from camaraderie with her teammates to massive achievements on the ice. She cherishes singing “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus in the locker room with her Northeast Passage teammates before games, and she’ll always remember winning the Women’s World Challenge title with the U.S. in Norway last year.

McGilvray’s favorite memory of Zheng was watching her score the game-winning goal in the 2021 Sled Classic while representing the Boston Bruins.

“It’s cool to see her get rewarded. She’s a super positive kid,” McGilvray said. “She’s an aggressive player that isn’t scared to get in the mix, no matter the size of the players on the ice. I’m proud of her that she has gotten the experience to play at a more competitive level. She’s taken advantage of her opportunities.”

]]><![CDATA[Breakaway 2024]]>Sat, 01 Jun 2024 22:02:50 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/breakaway-2024

Harry Thompson wrote this article for the New York State Amateur Hockey Association, and was published in their online magazine. The link can be found here:

https://www.nysaha.com/news_article/show/1305146

It’s a beautiful March evening in New York City as springlike temperatures coax locals away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets and into the lush oasis of Central Park.

As some enjoy a leisurely stroll under the stars, the sound of laughter and cheers fills the air above Wollman Rink as members of the WSF New York Sled Rangers are impressing nearly 400 onlookers with their prowess to propel themselves across the ice, deftly stickhandling pucks and snapping shots into nets set up around the rink.

Indeed, Harry. Indeed.

]]><![CDATA[2023 National Wheelchair Tennis Champion]]>Sat, 27 Jan 2024 18:13:04 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/2023-national-wheelchair-tennis-champion

One of the U.S.'s most talented young wheelchair tennis players closed out 2023 by making a big statement. Sixteen-year-old Max Wong from Bayside, N.Y. not only won the top junior title at November's national championships, but the co-ed adult division, too.

Though he came into the field unseeded, Wong was the class of the co-ed junior 'A' division field at the America Wheelchair Tennis Championships, held from Nov. 16-19 in McDonough, Ga., as he dropped just five games in six sets—which included a 6-1, 6-0 victory over No. 2 seed Spencer Davis in the semifinals. In the final, Wong toppled Colorado's Sabina Czauz, who beat No. 1 seed Zane Goodwin in the semis, 6-2, 6-0.

His win in the co-ed 'A' adult division, though, proved much more of a surprise. After two straight-set wins in the first two rounds, where he dropped a combined three games, Wong won a pair of titantic three-setters in the semifinals and final to take the event's top gold ball back home to Queens.

We are so proud of you Max. Keep up the great work.

Click here for the full story

]]><![CDATA[Sled Rangers are 2023 Tier II Youth Champs]]>Tue, 02 May 2023 01:29:46 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/sled-rangers-are-2023-tier-ii-youth-champsYou can watch the entire championship game here!

also, this: www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1269421

]]><![CDATA[Goodbye Coach Rox - We will miss you]]>Thu, 15 Sep 2022 01:28:14 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/goodbye-coach-rox-we-will-miss-you

It's hard to put into words how much Coach Rox has meant to this program. Luckily, we put together this little goodbye video so Rox can remember, and so can we. Rox, you will always be part of the Sled Ranger family. We love you.

I just watched the wonderful video. Thank you all so much. It has been my honor to have been with this program for so many amazing years and to be part of a sled family that I will cherish forever.

I started coaching with Steph so many years ago because we were bored and generally just liked to be at the rink. And then I'm just a little competitive :) so I wanted the team to win and to feel what success is. And then I witnessed what it means to support and encourage players - and the joy it brings to all involved and how that translates into a hockey family. We've had some truly special families in our program.

I am so grateful for having found this program and being able to coach this group. Thank you all for the wonderful well wishes and Go Rangers! (Except if they have to play the Lightning in the playoffs)

Sincerely,
Coach Rox

]]><![CDATA[Farewell Coach Rox]]>Mon, 30 May 2022 01:49:07 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/farewell-coach-rox

Coach Rox first came to us in 2015 and has been an integral part of our program ever since. She has been an amazing role model for our sled ranger athletes. She has motivated them, encouraged them, pushed them, and taught them. Most of all, anyone can see how much she loves them. Rox has made these athletes better hockey players and better kids. Rox, we will miss you, but you will always be part of our sled ranger. family. Thank you to Melanie for putting together this video tribute.

]]><![CDATA[Ailin and CAF]]>Wed, 13 Apr 2022 20:46:18 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/ailin-and-caf

It's always terrific to see our athletes grow up and become amazing adults. Ailin started skating with us when she was 10 years old. Here she is, getting a CAF grant for a custom sled. Congratulations Ailin!

]]><![CDATA[11th Annual NHL Sled Hockey Classic]]>Sun, 12 Dec 2021 17:40:32 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/11th-annual-nhl-sled-hockey-classic

We sent some of our athletes to play with the adult Sled Rangers at the 11th Annual NHL Sled Classic, which took place in Wayne, NJ this year. Sebs and Max got in a lot of ice time and contributed a lot, with both scoring goals in the tournament. Coach Rox also got in on the action, and we were very happy to be able to not only join in the tournament fun, but also to bring the kids program and the adult program closer together. Go Rangers!

]]><![CDATA[COVID Guidelines From NYSAHA]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2020 02:23:15 GMThttps://www.wsfsledrangers.org/blog/covid-guidelines-from-nysaha

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