Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Sledge Hockey

Lonnie Hannah II

Sledge Hockey

Served as envoy

  • 2014  –  Kazakhstan
  • 2016  –  Slovakia

Lonnie Hannah II is a former ice sledge hockey player. He won medals with Team USA at the 2002 Winter Paralympics and 2006 Paralympics.

He received the Whang Youn Dai Overcome Prize for competing at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin, after being diagnosed with cancer the previous year. He also carried his country’s flag at the Games’ Closing Ceremony. In 2007 he started to coach the first ice sledge hockey program in Texas, affiliated to the San Antonio Rampage American Hockey League [AHL] team. The team’s roster contains mainly injured military personnel in rehabilitation at San Antonio’s Brooke Army Medical Center [BAMC].

Andrew Yohe

Sledge Hockey

Served as envoy

  • 2014  –  Kazakhstan

Andy Yohe began playing the Sledge Hockey in 2002 with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago [RIC] Blackhawks in United States of America. He played wheelchair basketball after his accident, but also searched for a sport he could play outside the basketball season. He had always been an ice hockey fan, so once he discovered Para ice hockey he wanted to give it a go.

After winning a gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, he retired from the sport to spend more time with his family. In 2013 he made a comeback and went on to win gold at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. Soon after the event he retired from Para ice hockey for a second time, but in 2016 he made another return to the sport with the aim of winning a third Paralympic gold in 2018. “It’s all about the love of the game and being part of the team more than anything. I feel like with all the work we’ve put in previously, we’re working on creating a dynasty, not just one great Games here or there. It’s more of a long-term success of the programme and I’d like to be a part of it.”

Bradley Emmerson

Sledge Hockey

Served as envoy

  • 2016  –  Slovakia

A member of the National Team since 2003, Brad Emmerson got his chance to compete at his first Paralympic Winter Games in 2006, and was a major contributor for the bronze medal-winning squad. Emmerson tied for second on the team in scoring (two goals, three assists) and in plus/minus rating (+4).

Emmerson is now a veteran on the U.S. Paralympics Sled Hockey National Team, and has held a slot on the national team for five years helping lead the U.S. to a bronze medal at the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships in Marlborough, Mass., the 2009 World Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic and a gold medal in 2010 Japan Para Ice Sledge Hockey Championships. Emmerson was also part of the 2010 gold medal U.S. Paralympis Sled Hockey National Team.

In addition to his years on the national team, Emmerson has spent eight years with the Buffalo Freeze sled hockey club and now has been named the first-ever head coach of the Novice Buffalo Sabres sled hockey team.

Off the ice, Emmerson spends his time speaking to students throughout the northeast about overcoming obstacles to achieve goals with hard work and belief in one’s self. Emmerson also blogs about his experiences with Team USA right here on the U.S. Paralympics Web site.