SOUTH HADLEY – Twenty-five-year-old Kyle Zych has proved that hard work and dedication pay off after earning a spot on the Team USA sled hockey team at the 2022 Paralympic Games.
Zych, a South Hadley native, will compete in Beijing, China, from March 4 to 14.

Zych was born with spina bifida, a congenital defect in which the spinal cord fails to develop or close properly in the womb. His hips, legs and feet are affected.

At four months, Zych had the fatty tumor on his spine removed, with the neurosurgeon leaving some behind as it was wrapped in nerves.

“Most likely if they took the whole thing out, I would’ve been paralyzed,” said Zych.

Zych said that, despite this, he was able to play stand-up T-ball and baseball until grade 8.

“Running became a little too challenging, and then I learned about sled hockey. I had known about it for a couple years before that and had no interest in it, no interest in adaptive sports, but once my baseball career was over I kinda just gave it a shot,” said Zych.

In 2011, he began his sled hockey career.

“I fell in love instantly as soon as I got on the ice for the first time,” he said.

Compared to stand-up hockey, Zych said that all of the rules are the same. The only differences are that players sit in sleds, have two sticks instead of one and they use them to propel themselves forward and shoot.

“All rules are the same. It’s full contact, very physical, five-on-five, with each team having a goalie. It’s the closest thing for adaptive sports compared to stand-up sports,” said Zych.
During his time as a sled hockey player, Zych has had many highs.

He skated with the U.S. Men’s Development Sled Hockey Team in the 2017-2018 season and made his U.S. National Sled Hockey Team debut at the Para Hockey Cup in 2018. He represented Team USA and won gold in the Para Ice Hockey World Championships in both 2019 and 2021.

Making the Paralympic team has been the highlight of his career so far, said Zych.

“That does top the two world championships I’ve been to,” he said.

In order to make the team, Zych had a very strict and regimented training process.

“Personally, when I’m back home, I’m at the gym six days a week. Skating whenever I can, typically two or three days a week, diet, all the choices I make throughout the day have to do with hockey and I take hockey into account,” he said.

He is now in Nashville for the team’s residency program where they continue to skate and lift weights four to five times a week.
“It’s intensive. Lots of training goes into making this team and staying on this team,” said Zych.

Zych will have a chance to return home to Western Massachusetts on Feb. 16 before heading to Los Angeles and then Beijing. He said that both his family and friends in South Hadley have been extremely supportive of his success.

“They’re all super proud and happy for me. They all know how much time and effort I put into this. Tons of sacrifice. I’ve missed birthdays, I’ve missed, most recently, my dad’s wedding … We do miss a lot. So they know how much sacrifice goes into this and the support I’ve gotten from back home when the team was announced has been almost overwhelming,” said Zych.

With COVID-19, Team USA players aren’t allowed to bring family with them to the games. Zych said that there is a watch party for friends and family in Park City, Utah, and the games will be broadcast on NBC.

Looking ahead to the games, Zych said that he is most excited about getting out on the ice with his teammates.

“I know how hard we work every day and just getting out there and seeing our hard work pay off. It’s always an honor to put that jersey on and get out there with some of my best friends,” said Zych.

He encouraged those hoping to be in his position one day to make a goal and keep going despite any criticism.

“If you’re set on a goal, just keep going and don’t ever stop. Don’t ever listen to anybody putting you down or telling you that you can’t do it. If you have that dream, chase it because if you put the time, effort and work in you’ll achieve your dreams and it’s pretty surreal when it happens,” said Zych.