Yohe named captain of US ice sledge hockey team

Andy Yohe, who captained Team USA to the gold medal at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games has been tabbed captain of the US National Sled Hockey Team for the 2016-17 season, USA Hockey announced on Friday (28 October).

In addition, Nikko Landeros and Josh Pauls have been named alternate captains.

“Coach Sauer and I are thrilled to announce Andy Yohe as our captain, along with Nikko Landeros and Josh Pauls as our alternate captains,” said Dan Brennan, general manager of the US National Sled Hockey Team and USA Hockey's director of inline and ice sledge hockey. “All three players bring a tremendous blend of experience, skill and grit to set a positive example for this year's team.”

This is the third time in seven campaigns that Yohe will serve as captain for Team USA. In addition to captaining the 2014 US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, Yohe captained the 2010 squad that claimed Team USA's first-ever IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships at the 2009 event in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In his six previous seasons with the US National Sled Hockey Team, Yohe has amassed 18 points (7-11) in 41 appearances while splitting time between forward and defense.

Overall, Yohe has been a part of five Championship-winning squads, including Sochi 2014; the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada; the 2010 Japan Ice Sledge Hockey Championship in Nagano City; the 2009 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, Canada; and the 2009 IPC ice Sledge Hockey World Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The US National Sled Hockey Team opens its 2016-17 season at the 2016 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown at MacLauchlan Arena from 4-10 December. For complete coverage of the US National Sled Hockey Team, visit USA Hockey’s website.