Ask the Paralympic pioneers: Rico Roman on Para ice hockey

 Get ready for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. The Paralympic Winter Games return to Italy for the first time since 2006, gathering up to 665 athletes across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.

This week, hear directly from legendary Paralympians as they answer your top questions about their sports. 

We spoke with Rico Roman, who helped Team USA top the Para ice hockey podium at three straight Games from Sochi 2014 to Beijing 2022. 

Para ice hockey 101: The sport for everyone

1. What is Para ice hockey and can you tell us about the equipment used in the sport? 

Para ice hockey is hockey, played in a sled. You are balancing on two blades. You have two hockey sticks in each hand. You can shoot the puck left or right-handed.

You play three 15-minute periods, and you change on the fly.

2. Why did you take up Para ice hockey?

I was in the military. I was with the US Army, assigned to Bravo Company 214 Infantry. On my third tour to Iraq, I was injured by a roadside bomb in February 2007. I was in a Humvee and injured both my left and right legs. I ultimately went to rehab at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, and then I was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Centre, where I opted for an amputation because of pain and complications with the limb salvage.

That's where they asked me if I wanted to do hand cycling. They help war-wounded veterans to get back on their feet with adaptive sports. And then they asked me to come play Para ice hockey. I actually told them 'no' a bunch before I went and gave it a shot and was instantly hooked.  

I found out after playing six months that it was a Paralympic sport. I went and tried out for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. I didn't make that team, but it just kind of lit that fire that I wanted to be a part of it. I went and tried out again, and I made the team, and went on to play for over a decade and appeared with my teammates in three different Paralympic Games, winning gold. 

3. What did you enjoy the most about playing Para ice hockey? 

The teamwork. The brotherhood.  

Inside the Para ice hockey playbook

1. What is the secret to success in Para ice hockey? 

Being disciplined, enjoying getting better, enjoying that process, the grind – day in, day out, being on the ice, lifting weights, training and cross-training. 

2. The sport is very fast-paced and physical. How do Para ice hockey players train? 

Most of us play on a club team throughout the US. I played with Chicago, San Antonio, Colorado, even with Boston. And then, as well as that, we go and skate, shoot, maybe three or four times a week, and also do what's called “stick and puck” sessions to practice stick handling, shooting and passing skills. 

3. How do you manoeuvre the sled?  

So, there are ice picks on the bottom of those sticks, and you hold the top of that stick, and you're kind of doing like a cross-country motion on the ice, and that's how we get propelled moving forward. And then to turn or to stop, you're using your core, and you're balancing on two blades.  

4. What was the biggest challenge about the sport? 

When it comes to adaptive sports, it's not a one-size-fits-all. So, your equipment is sized specifically for you. With stand-up hockey, you can go to the store, you can buy size 11 shoes, a regular ice hockey stick, a helmet, pads, everything is kind of like a standard size.  

As for Para ice hockey, we all have different types of disabilities. I'm missing a leg. My other buddy is missing two legs. We have one guy with a spinal cord injury. So, finding and adapting your equipment to your needs is the unique and challenging part of being a Para athlete. 

Another challenge is finances for getting ice time and being able to skate. We have to pay our own way, so a lot of us have to work as well and pay for that travel to play on the team, pay for that room to stay in and pay for our equipment.  

Also, being away from your family, I think it's a lot of sacrifices are made on your part and your family's part. Training every day, being away from them. 

Paralympic Winter Games at the centre

1. Can you tell us about your first Paralympic experience? 

It was Sochi 2014. I was so eager for the Games to start. Finally, we get going, and we play all the teams in a round robin, and we played Russia in Russia. That place was just jumping - 7,000 people. I've never played in front of so many people. We ended up losing that game, and that geared us up to play Canada, which is one of our rivals, and so we ended up beating them, and that put us in the gold medal match to play Russia.  

It was unreal, because that stadium was just so loud. Every time they touched the puck, it would just erupt in there. I was on a line with two other military veterans. One of them scored the goal coming out of their zone and we won 1-0.  

I remember getting that gold medal and looking back in the stands and seeing my son and daughter's faces, all smiling. It was something that I'll never forget. That was my favourite of all the Games. 

2. How do you think Para sport has changed your life? 

I think it really just gave me an outlet. Learning, you know, with my injury, “Hey, I can do this, or I can do that.” It brought me to a whole community of different people with different disabilities and that too helped me in accepting my injury and just showing me a new path. 

Counting down to Milano Cortina 2026

1.  What are you excited the most about ahead of Milano Cortina 2026? 

Number one, it's in Italy. Italy is a beautiful country. I've actually got to play there, and I know a good handful of the Italian players. I'm excited to see my USA guys compete. I don't know if I'll be there yet. I'm really hoping I get invited somehow. 

2.  What should fans watch out for when they watch Para ice hockey games at Milano Cortina 2026? 

Declan Farmer  and Malik Jones. The whole team is just loaded with great, amazing players. If I had to guess, I'd say USA and probably Canada in the final. But you never know. You never know at the Games. Anything can happen. 

3.  Do you have a message to athletes competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games? 

I would just tell them to take it all in, enjoy every moment. Don't let other things distract you. Focus on why you're there and know that you've prepared for this moment. Enjoy it, win or lose. 

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org