(Published in The Buffalo News March 5, 2010)

U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey team member Adam Page (pictured at right) was born with the most severe level of spina bifida, with his spinal cord growing outside his body.

Almost 18 years later, Adam will don the red, white and blue of his nation and walk proudly, with his forearm crutches, into next week’s opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Starting March 13, he will hop onto his metal sled, grab his two cut-off hockey sticks and fly around the hockey rink with the U.S. sled hockey team.

It’s not time to douse the Olympic flame in Vancouver just yet. Adam and his buddies — nine with ties to Buffalo — are chasing the gold medal that eluded both U.S. stand-up hockey teams.

See full profile on buffalnews.com.

See Adam Page's profile on USA Hockey's web site.