800 Players, 800 Stories. Here's One.

At 8 years old, Harrison is new to sled hockey. In fact, he's been playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins novice team for just a month and a half, and this tournament was the first time he had played on full ice and against another team. I had a chance to meet Harrison, his parents, and his coach at the team's last game of the festival this morning, against the Space Coast Hurricanes.

Harrison's mother, Michele, told me he got started after seeing sled hockey during an intermission at an NHL Penguins game. "He really wanted to be part of a team, so he could play and compete, and he really likes it.  He's just starting, but he does okay. He holds his own, even though he's younger than many of the other players." The opportunity to play in a national tournament for the first time "has been a big deal for him and the entire team."

Harrison's dad helps get him in his sled before the game.

Harrison with his mother and father.

After the first period, the Penguins trailed the older and more experienced Hurricanes 5-0 on the scoreboard, but anyone who was counting knew the actual goals against were in double digits. Here Coach Hadley Dean gives them a pep talk.

Harrison with Coach Hadley in the locker room after the game. After going 1-3 in his first tournament, Harrison told me, "The team was working hard and doing their best, and that's all I can ask of them."

Harrison receives his medal from festival director Mike Hickey.