Hockey is a sport for the toughest of athletes, a fact 20 local youths know all too well.
The Vegas Golden Chariots youth sled hockey para-athletic team recently claimed the 2026 Tier 5 National Championship, going undefeated in tournament play and beating the Dallas Sled Stars 3-0 in the title game at Children’s Health StarCenter in Farmers Branch, Texas.
And the Chariots did it on sleds.
With some support from the Vegas Golden Knights, boys and girls players with physical disabilities who range from elementary to high school age make up the Chariots roster. The team’s May 3 title proved the program has made great strides since its inception.
“Watching them hoist that national championship banner overwhelmed me with pride,” Chariots president Chad Smith said. “Not just for the scoreboard, but for the incredible journey every single athlete on this team has lived.”
Francis McCabe III, who scored all three goals for Vegas in the title game, said he has been playing since he responded to an open invitation made by a youth hockey group in 2018.
“Once I got on a sled and got on the ice, I fell in love with it,” said the 14-year-old, who was born with a spinal cord infarction. “It was a safe spot for me to go and have fun.”
Other athletes contend with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy, but they’re not afraid to mix it up on the ice.
“If you’ve ever seen playoff hockey, we’re just like that,” said McCabe, whose mother Melissa McCabe played a vital role in the creation of the team eight years ago. “The kids are physical and tough.”
And no one is babied.
“I’ve gotten concussions and my legs have been bruised,” said McCabe, who also competes in three para events for Legacy High School’s track team. “There are picks on the end of your stick to help you dig into the ice, and people get spiked by them all the time.”
That toughness resulted in an appearance in the 2025 championship game, where the Chariots lost in an overtime shootout. But there is always more to the game than the final score.
Francis’ father, Francis McCabe II, said that winning games is not the team’s only objective.
“I get the same amount of pride out of this as I do when I see my other (able-bodied) kids play,” said the elder McCabe, the team’s unofficial equipment manager. “It’s a joy to see the happiness this sport brings them.”
The experience has many side benefits for the players.
“I’ve learned valuable skills like leadership,” McCabe III said. “And I’ve made a lot of friendships.”
Smith echoed those thoughts.
“They didn’t just learn to play sled hockey,” he said. “They found belonging and an opportunity to participate in a sport that allows them to contribute.”
The Chariots, who practice at City National Arena and play all over the country, outscored opponents 25-4 in their recent five-game tournament sweep. McCabe scored 14 goals and teammate Kenzo Pacelli scored four, while goalies Carter Hirschi and Blake Smith teamed to log two shutouts. It was a far cry from the program’s first several seasons.
“The first few years at nationals were pretty rough,” coach Scott Chalmers said. “But the team learned from our losses and got better after every game. Four years ago we scored our first goal in competition play. Three years ago we won our first game in a shootout at nationals. Last year we made it to the championship and lost in a shootout. And this year we won the championship.”
Team members are already dreaming of a repeat. The program accepts all interested players, and they remain eligible until they turn 18, so most of the team will return next season. Practices are already underway.
Contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.
