Meet The Team
Christopher Lovelene (He/Him)
Christopher Lovelene (He/Him)
Christopher Lovelene (He/Him)
#13, Captain
"I started Para Hockey Pride to give everyone a place to belong and show how hockey is truly for everyone."
Christopher started playing 4 years ago after surgery for Spina Bifida and heavy nerve damage.
Home Team - Carolina Honey Badgers, Carolina Thunderbirds Sled
Clasey Schaad (She/Her)
Christopher Lovelene (He/Him)
Christopher Lovelene (He/Him)
#11, Alternate Captain
Connor Downer (They/Them)
Christopher Lovelene (He/Him)
Connor Downer (They/Them)
#16, Alternate Captain
“When faced with my disability, I found freedom and liberation through movement. Whether playing sled hockey, rock climbing, or lifting weights, pushing my limits has helped me reclaim so much of what my disability once took from me. I am excited and proud to be part of Para Hockey and to represent the LGBTQ communit
#16, Alternate Captain
“When faced with my disability, I found freedom and liberation through movement. Whether playing sled hockey, rock climbing, or lifting weights, pushing my limits has helped me reclaim so much of what my disability once took from me. I am excited and proud to be part of Para Hockey and to represent the LGBTQ community within the sport.”
Connor has been playing for 4 years, pushing through Luekodystrophy and Restrictive Lung Disease to play the sport they love.
Sydney Balgo (She/Her)
Cathie Zimmerman (She/Her)
Connor Downer (They/Them)
#96, Goalie
"Hockey truly is for everyone and I am honored to get to live my values of inclusivity and representation throughout the season, but especially at tournaments like this. Being a goalie for the Para Pride team feels like a huge triumph of intersectional representation in a sport that is rapidly growing in diversity. I know goali
#96, Goalie
"Hockey truly is for everyone and I am honored to get to live my values of inclusivity and representation throughout the season, but especially at tournaments like this. Being a goalie for the Para Pride team feels like a huge triumph of intersectional representation in a sport that is rapidly growing in diversity. I know goalies have a reputation for being weird... and I am not beating the allegations. If you see me dancing on the ice in net, come say hi!"
Sydney has been playing for 7 years battling with SCI and EDS.
Home Team - Nashville Sled Preds
Cathie Zimmerman (She/Her)
Cathie Zimmerman (She/Her)
Cathie Zimmerman (She/Her)
#14
"I joined Para Hockey Pride because I wanted to be part of a community where I could help share and grow a sport I love. Hockey has given me so much, and I believe it should be available to anyone who wants to play. Para Hockey Pride plays an important role in showing that hockey truly is for everybody by giving people a place to belon
#14
"I joined Para Hockey Pride because I wanted to be part of a community where I could help share and grow a sport I love. Hockey has given me so much, and I believe it should be available to anyone who wants to play. Para Hockey Pride plays an important role in showing that hockey truly is for everybody by giving people a place to belong, compete, and be seen."
Cathie has served in the Marine Corps and suffers from incomplete SCI and TBI.
Home Team - Dallas Sled Stars
Alex Gaeta (They/Them)
Cathie Zimmerman (She/Her)
Cathie Zimmerman (She/Her)
#71
"I've been a sports fan my whole life and have been told I don't belong in those spaces either because of my queerness or my disability. In January I started playing sled hockey, and while I didn't stick out because of my disability, my queerness was still considered odd and I've dealt with homophobia and transphobia from my team. Para
#71
"I've been a sports fan my whole life and have been told I don't belong in those spaces either because of my queerness or my disability. In January I started playing sled hockey, and while I didn't stick out because of my disability, my queerness was still considered odd and I've dealt with homophobia and transphobia from my team. Para Pride Hockey finally allows me the chance to show up in an athletic setting as my full, authentic self"
Alex has been playing since January 2026, pushing through Ehlers Danlos, Muscular Dystrophy, c5 SCI, and a TBI.
Ashton Laughlin (He/Him)
Logan Gillingham (They/Them)
Logan Gillingham (They/Them)
#25
"Being part of such a welcoming community that shares a lot of the same interest as me and gives me the opportunity to make friends and grow as a person"
Ashton has been playing for 1 year while pushing through an unknown chronic illness.
Home Team - Dallas Sled Stars
Logan Gillingham (They/Them)
Logan Gillingham (They/Them)
Logan Gillingham (They/Them)
#1
Sara Maravelas (She/Her)
Logan Gillingham (They/Them)
Solstice Badillo (They/Them)
#12
Solstice Badillo (They/Them)
Solstice Badillo (They/Them)
Solstice Badillo (They/Them)
#8
Megan Knoernschild
Solstice Badillo (They/Them)
AJ Rezin (They/Them)
#55
AJ Rezin (They/Them)
Solstice Badillo (They/Them)
AJ Rezin (They/Them)
#26
Oliver Mayfield (He/Him)
Oliver Mayfield (He/Him)
Oliver Mayfield (He/Him)
#27
Home Team - Carolina Honey Badgers, Carolina Thunderbirds Sled
Vespa
Oliver Mayfield (He/Him)
Oliver Mayfield (He/Him)
Service Dog Captain
Dixie
Service Dog Alternate Captain
Eli Holcomb (She/They)
#0
"I’ve been playing sled hockey for 4 years. First 3 years, I played defense, but now I’m a goalie.
I’m from Minneapolis, MN and I play with Twin Cities Sled Hockey (formerly Minnesota Wild Sled Hockey)
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and hyper-mobility about 6 years ago, when I was 20. Throughout my school years, I always played sport
#0
"I’ve been playing sled hockey for 4 years. First 3 years, I played defense, but now I’m a goalie.
I’m from Minneapolis, MN and I play with Twin Cities Sled Hockey (formerly Minnesota Wild Sled Hockey)
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and hyper-mobility about 6 years ago, when I was 20. Throughout my school years, I always played sports, but stopped at the age of 15 because of the pain in my body. After getting diagnosed, my doctors really emphasized physical activity to help with the pain management. Growing up in Minnesota, I’ve always loved hockey, but I never got the chance to play. I found out that there was a team in my area, so I tried it out and completely fell in love with the sport!
I joined Para Pride for the community! Having people who are disabled and LGBTQ+, who truly understand your experiences, is amazing.
My big goal for sled hockey is to be a part of the US Women’s National Team! I also want to help people better understand chronic pain and how for many, like me, it is disabling and shouldn’t be brushed off as a “less than” disability."