Concord hockey player Natalie Pochopin reaches back to get a puck as the Crimson Tide players get used to skating on sleds during the Northeast Passage demonstration at their practice on Friday, February 6, 2026. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER / For the Monitor

The Concord girls’ hockey team used Friday’s practice to gain a new perspective as they traded in their skates for sleds.

The Crimson Tide players connected with Northeast Passage, a privately funded non-profit program of the University of New Hampshire, whose mission is to empower people living with disabling conditions, promote whole-life health, community and fulfillment, and to develop and promote best practices in the fields of therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports.

Head Coach Kate Billings connected with Northeast Passage a while ago and thought it would be a great opportunity to bring to her team.

“It’s a great way for our team to experience hockey from a different perspective and realize that anyone can play the game that we all love,” she wrote.

This practice was what’s called “similarity awareness.” According to Northeast Passage, the experience teaches students to consider what it’s like to be sled-bound to play on the ice while identifying the skills and challenges required to play sled hockey.

  • The Concord Crimson Tide girls hockey team listens to Brendan Cormier of the UNH Northeast Passage program relate the players to skating on sleds during their practice at Everett Arena on Friday, February 6, 2026. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER / For the Monitor
  • Concord hockey player Elizabeth Woods laughs as she attempts to get back up on her tipped over sled during the team’s practice with the UNH Northeast Passage program on Friday, February 6, 2026. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER / For the Monitor
  • Concord hockey players left to right, Malie Ramshaw, Katelyn Fennelly, Sydney Brown and Natalie Pochopin get used to skating on sleds during the Northeast Passage demonstration at their practice on Friday, February 6, 2026. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER / For the Monitor
  • Brendan Cormier skates on a sled during the Concord Crimson Tide hockey practice at Everett Arena on Friday, February 6, 2026.r Credit: GEOFF FORESTER / For the Monitor
  • The Concord Crimson Tide girls hockey team gets used to skating on sledss during their practice at Everett Arena on Friday, February 6, 2026. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER / For the Monitor