Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to Support the Gaylord Wolfpack Sled Hockey Team

WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, July 9, 2026 — The Gaylord Sports Association has received a $10,000 grant from the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation to support and expand its Gaylord Wolfpack Sled Hockey team, helping more people with permanent physical impairments discover the life-changing benefits of adaptive sports.

The funding will help offset the costs of league play, tournament travel, equipment, coaching, and athlete development while expanding the availability of introductory experiences and practices to develop the next generation of sled hockey players.

"Sled hockey gives athletes far more than the opportunity to compete," said Katie Joly, Manager, Gaylord Sports Association. "It builds confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships while helping people stay active after a life-changing injury or illness.”

“We're grateful to the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation for helping us remove financial barriers and expand the program so that more athletes can experience everything this sport has to offer."

Open to men and women ages 16 and older with permanent physical impairments, the Gaylord Wolfpack provides opportunities for athletes of all experience levels to participate in competitive and recreational sled hockey. The program also offers equipment loans and introductory clinics to make the sport accessible to newcomers.

The Gaylord Wolfpack competes in the Northeast Sled Hockey League and regularly travels to compete against some of the region's top-tier teams. The Gaylord Wolfpack won the USA Hockey Adult National Sled Hockey Championship in 2023 and several of its members have gone on to represent Team USA. In 2025, three Wolfpack players led the U.S. Women's National Sled Hockey team to win gold at the inaugural World Para Ice Hockey Women's World Championship in Slovakia.

The Gaylord Sports Association is Connecticut's largest adaptive sports program, offering year-round recreational and competitive opportunities in 17 different adaptive sports. More than 500 athletes have participated in its programs over the past five years, benefiting from sports that promote health, independence, confidence, and community.

For more information about the Gaylord Sports Association and its adaptive sports programs, visit www.gaylord.org/sports.

About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare:
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a rehabilitation-focused, nonprofit health system headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut provides inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is anchored by Gaylord Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital, and includes Gaylord Outpatient Services and Gaylord Physical Therapy for patients who require diagnosis and treatment on an outpatient basis. Gaylord's Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation is a hub for accelerating world-class rehabilitative research, technology development and innovation to improve the quality of life and function of people around the world. Together, these entities deliver a complete continuum of rehabilitative care driven by clinical experience, innovation and human compassion.