What is the WCHL?
The Wheelchair Hockey League of Michigan (WCHL) was created for the enjoyment of participating in hockey. The purpose of this league is to provide an appropriate means for persons in wheelchairs to have the opportunity to play hockey, and have the chance to engage in the competition and excitement of the sport. Our League includes players in electric and manual wheelchairs. The league currently has over 35 players, divided into four teams.

Players range in age from 10 to 60+, and have disabilities that include Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Injury. Players use a variety of sticks to play, depending on their upper body strength and ability to grip the stick. Some players add on a dowel though the blade of the stick and other players use "Double Sticks". Double Sticks are two sticks fastened together, with the blades forming a V, and strapped to the player’s legs and chair frame.

Our games are played 4 on 4, with goalies. We play 2 to 3 times per month, year round. Our games are played at Ward Presbyterian Church in Northville Twp. We are just underway with our 9th season of competitive hockey. Our season will be 12 Weeks in length culminating in a tournament to decide our Wheeler’s Cup Championship! Our seasons are played over the course of 10 months (September through June).

The league was developed and is run and organized by the players with the assistance of parents and volunteers. The WCHL holds many events throughout the year, including playing a game on ice! Our very first ice game took place on September 6, 1998, as part of the Mega Skate Fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The game on ice is one of the many special events the WCHL holds throughout the year including the annual All-Star game, Awards Banquet, Season, Playoffs, another ice game nicknamed the Battle on Ice and tournaments. We even have competed against the world’s best wheelchair hockey teams at international tournaments in Toronto, Minneapolis and Calgary.

Story of the WCHL
Todd Pasant had a vision for a hockey league for wheelchair players. That’s how the WCHL started. Pretty simple, but as with most excellent ideas, challenges emerge. When Todd Pasant passed away, rather than have his monumental dream die, the players carried on with the WCHL. Now the dreamer smiles knowing his dream will live on and continue to grow.

In the beginning, the WCHL consisted of 6 players. (The original six players were Todd Pasant, Andy S., Jason M., Jeff M., Eric M., and Joe C..) The first thing they decided was to play without goalies. That’s right: NO GOALIES!! Since then we have a full rule book making the game fair, entertaining and accessible to all types of different players. After attending a tournament in Toronto, Canada we decided to add goalies to make it another exciting aspect of our games. The WCHL is a league for players in manual wheelchairs as well as players in electric wheelchairs.

 

Todd’s ultimate dream was for the WCHL to become a national league. Who knows, one day that dream may come true. All the WCHL’s players are proud to be fulfilling Todd’s vision. Some of the largest WCHL activities include seasons, All-Star games, Games on Ice, and attending National Tournaments. So Todd, the WCHL honors your memory by continuing to support the league. The rest of the players have taken this dream as their own, and continually show the same spirit and determination as Todd had. To all you inspiring wheelchair hockey players: "Don’t Just Sit There, Play Hockey!"

Tax Deductible Donations
The WCHL is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. 
All donations are tax deductible.

If you would like to help support the WCHL, please make checks payable to the "WCHL"  and mail to:

WCHL Treasurer
Brenda Drapinski
20917 E. Trebesh
Pinckney, MI 48169

Please note if you want a tax receipt or not.

Volunteers
The WCHL is always looking for volunteers
- Game Referees
- Assistant Referees
- Photographers
- Stat Keepers
- Articles or column writers for the monthly Slapshot