Estonia and Great Britain set for sledge series

The series marks the start of a programme of international cooperation for both teams before the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B-Pool in March in Nagano, Japan, host city of the 1998 Paralympic Winter Games.

Great Britain’s ice sledge hockey team will face Estonia in a three-game series beginning on Friday (22 February) at the Skoda Ice Hall in Tallinn, Estonia.

The series marks the start of a programme of international cooperation for both teams before the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B-Pool in March in Nagano, Japan, host city of the 1998 Paralympic Winter Games.

Forward Kaido Kalm and defenseman Tarmo Enda will lead an Estonian team that’s hoping to qualify for the Sochi 2014 Paralympics after being knocked out of the A-Pool last season.

Coached by Andy Linton, Great Britain will be led by veterans Karl Nicholson and Ian Warner, as well as goalkeeper Rob Gaze, who had a top performance at December’s New Year’s Cup in Podolsk, Russia.

In addition to the series, athletes will take part in sessions with injured members of the Estonian defense forces, introducing them to ice sledge hockey. Disability sport experts from both countries will gather together in Tallinn to exchange experiences and ideas on how to strengthen para-sport activity in Estonia.