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Five things to know: Russia's sledge hockey team
Can the host nation’s sledge hockey team medal at Sochi 2014 in their Paralympic debut? 10 Feb 2014
Russia team captain Vadim Selyukin, right, goes for the puck at the 2013 International "4 Nations" Tournament. Selyukin has been credited for being the spark in starting up Russia's ice sledge hockey programme.
Russia enter the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games as the No. 3 seed in the ice sledge hockey tournament.
1. This is the first time that Russia, the host nation, will participate in a Paralympic Winter Games in ice sledge hockey.
2. Since starting up their programme just five years ago, Russia have become one of the best teams in the world, winning a bronze medal at last year’s IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool in Goyang, South Korea.
3. Team captain Vadim Selyukin, who lost both of his legs while serving in the military in Chechnya, built the team from scratch. He launched a sports club for people with an impairment in 2004, and from there an international programme grew.
4. Russia are led offensively by IPC One to Watch Dmitry Lisov, who recorded four goals and one assist in five games at the 2013 World Championships.
5. In their final tune-up before Sochi in the 2014 Ice Sledge Hockey International Tournament hosted in Podolsk, Russia, the Russians outscored Sweden, Norway and Czech Republic by a combined 21-1 score.
