PBS Goes Behind-the-Scenes of 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team in Documentary ICE WARRIORS

"Murderball on blades," that's the nickname for ice sled hockey, a riveting game of force, speed and strategy. Played with the same intensity as "standup" hockey, its players battle with their sticks, sharp sled runners, and the serrated ice picks used to propel their sleds. A new primetime PBS documentary goes behind the scenes of this fascinating sport, gaining unparalleled access to chronicle the struggles, heroics and stunning accomplishments of the elite competitors on the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.

Beginning in September of 2013, ICE WARRIORS filmmakers accompanied the players at training camps and competitions, in locker rooms and in their homes, giving viewers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at their arduous journey to Sochi, Russia. Focusing on their season-long efforts to bond as a team, the project expands on stories of the sport, the players and their families, offering up-close portraits of these amazing athletes as they face off against the best teams in the world. Their "Road to Gold" is also marked by deep uncertainty, as unfolding news events in Crimea jeopardize the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games and U.S.-Russia relations rapidly deteriorate. Team USA's triumph -- winning unprecedented back-to-back gold medals - is the capstone of their efforts and the program. The new 90-minute film, ICE WARRIORS: USA SLED HOCKEY, premieres on Monday, November 10, 2014 at 10pm ET on PBS (check local listings). ??Played every two years the Paralympic Games bring together the world's top athletes with physical disabilities to battle, as in the Olympics, for bronze, silver, and gold medals, in the presence of the iconic flaming torch. In the 2014 Winter Games, the sled hockey team includes players with personal stories that are riveting and inspirational, from a 15-year-old making his team debut, to four "wounded warriors," injured veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and are proud to continue representing the U.S. in international sport.

The team's two forward lines highlight this diverse roster that draws on both experience and youth. The "Bravo-Delta" line consists of three military men who were injured in combat and lost one or both legs. Rico Roman, Josh Sweeney, and Paul Schaus are always the starters. The second line is nicknamed the "Kids" line and consists of 15-year-old Brody Roybal, 16-year-old Declan Farmer, and the "old guy," 20-year-old Josh Pauls. Although young, the "Kids" baffle opposing teams in Sochi with their quickness and amazing maturity. All are committed to winning gold against their traditional rivals, Canada, and the upstart young team from Russia. ??The 2014 Paralympics are marked by additional tensions, as the Games are played in the shadow of the Ukraine crisis, less than 300 miles away across the Black Sea. After their hard work preparing, will Team USA be pulled from the Games because of world events? How will the players, especially the young ones, handle the shock of playing in front of such huge, partisan crowds at the Shayba Arena? Will the controversial loss to Russia unnerve and derail the Americans? The Games culminate with Team USA's comeback win against Canada, one of the best-fought competitions of the 2014 tournament, and their triumph in the gold medal match against the remarkably tough Russians.

On and off the ice, viewers witness the camaraderie of the teammates, learn about the personal triumphs and trials of the athletes, and see them at home with their supportive families. ICE WARRIORS interviews many of the athletes' parents, including Taylor Lipsett's mother who discusses the challenges and heartbreaks of watching her son play in this aggressive sport despite a diagnosis of brittle bone disease. Other parents describe why they didn't try to shelter their disabled child from participating.

The program also presents personal backstories, like the dramatic tale of "wounded warrior" Josh Sweeney's injury in Afghanistan, where he almost bled to death waiting for medical transport after an IED explosion. Another warrior-athlete, goaltender Jen Lee, had his left leg amputated above the knee when he was injured in a motorcycle accident, but he fought back to join Team USA while still serving as an active duty United States Army sergeant. Team captain Andy Yohe, who lost his legs in a train accident, is the team's oldest player at 35 years old. Two of the youngest players, Tyler Carron and Nikko Landeros, have a shared story: best friends in high school, they were in a car accident that meant amputations for them both. They went through rehab together, tried out for sled hockey together, and are now teammates again.??"We're excited to share with viewers the inspiring stories of what it means to be an elite athlete on the world stage, and to overcome disability as part of that journey. These athletes shatter preconceptions about adaptive sports and redefine what makes a champion," says WGBH executive producer, Judith Vecchione. "Winning, losing, and fighting back - ICE WARRIORS shares the incredible drive of the U.S. Sled Hockey team and gives viewers a spiritual uplift."

The 2014 U.S. Paralympics Sled Hockey Team members are:
• Tyler Carron (#11, Defenseman) Fort Collins, CO
• Steve Cash (#34, Goaltender) Overland, MO
• Taylor Chace (#9, Defenseman) Hampton Falls, NH
• Declan Farmer (#6, Forward) Tampa, FL
• Nikko Landeros (#15, Defenseman) Johnstown, CO
• Jen Lee (#1, Goaltender) San Francisco, CA
• Taylor Lipsett (#7, Forward) Plano, TX
• Dan McCoy (#14, Forward) Cheswick, PA
• Kevin McKee (#18, Forward) Davenport, IA
• Adam Page (#20, Forward) Lancaster, NY
• Josh Pauls (#27, Defenseman) Green Brook, NJ
• Rico Roman (#23, Defenseman) Portland, OR
• Brody Roybal (#4, Forward) Northlake, IL
• Paul Schaus (#28, Forward) Buffalo, NY
• Greg Shaw (#8, Forward) Merritt Island, FL
• Josh Sweeney (#13, Forward) Phoenix, AZ
• Andy Yohe (#9, Defenseman) Bettendorf, IA
• Jeff Sauer (Coach) Madison, WI

Produced by WGBH Boston, ICE WARRIORS is made by the creators of the award-winning 2012 project MEDAL QUEST, which showcased America's elite athletes as they trained for and competed in the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games. (pbs.org/medalquest)

To learn more about the sled hockey team and connect with some of the world's most elite athletes, and for an up-close, in-depth look at the Paralympic Winter Games, visit ICE WARRIORS at pbs.org/icewarriors.

Ice Warriors Production Credits/Funding
ICE WARRIORS: USA Sled Hockey is a production of WGBH Boston and is presented in the United States under agreement with the United States Olympic Committee. Executive Producer is Judith Vecchione. Senior Producer: Juan Mandelbaum. Digital Executive Producer: Meredith Nierman. Video production: Luminant Media, Executive Producer Brian Knappenberger.

Major funding for Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey is provided by Bruce C., Alex, Conner and Lynn Bay Dayton with additional funding provided by the Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation, NO LIMITS Media, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting Service.

About WGBH:

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web, including Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Frontline, Nova, American Experience, Arthur, Curious George, and more than a dozen other prime-time, lifestyle, and children's series. WGBH's television channels include WGBH 2, WGBH 44, and the digital channels World and Create. WGBH TV productions focusing on the region's diverse community include Greater Boston, Basic Black, High School Quiz Show, and Neighborhood Kitchens. WGBH Radio serves listeners across New England with 89.7 WGBH, Boston Public Radio; Classical New England; and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® Station. WGBH also is a major source of programs for public radio (among them, PRI's The World®), a leader in educational multimedia (including PBS LearningMedia™, providing the nation's educators with free, curriculum-based digital content to meet the needs of 21st-century learners), and a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to the 36 million Americans who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards...even two Oscars. Find more information at wgbh.org.??

About PBS:

PBS, with more than 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 109 million people through television and over 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing CURIOSITY and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices.

Photo courtesy of PBS.org

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