The Hurricanes sled hockey team held a send-off after their practice on Saturday for a local teen heading to Italy for the Paralympics.
Kayden Beasley, 19, was one of 14 people named in the initial roster for the US Paralympic Sled Hockey team.
Beasley is a double-leg amputee above the knees. Many of his players and mentors called his growth and progression something to see.
“You could see that he had talent, just natural, God-given talent,” said his mentor, Rob Pickel. “But he also had a fire and a drive that a lot of kids don’t have.”
He got back from training in Colorado late Friday night and was practicing Saturday morning at Polar Ice in Raleigh with the Hurricanes Sled Hockey team.
Team USA’s quest for a fifth-straight Paralympic gold medal begins in Milan against host Italy on Saturday, March 7.