Sledge Spotlight: Bas Disveld

“It is easy to say our expectations are to win the B Pool World Championships in March and go to the Qualification Tournament of the end of 2013 and to get a slot for the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, but all teams would like to go to the Paralympics.”

Editor’s note: Every Wednesday in the lead-up to the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey A and B Pool World Championships this season, Paralympic.org will publish its Sledge Spotlight, allowing the public to meet the faces behind the helmets. Each week, we will feature one ice sledge hockey player, giving fans a chance to get to know them better.

Bas Disveld has been playing ice sledge hockey on the international level since 2002, and while he is actually Dutch, he is one of the leading forwards playing for the Germany national team as that is the country he resides in.

The forward will try to help Germany move a step closer to qualifying for the Sochi 2014 Games when they compete at the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey B Pool World Championships from 10-16 March in Nagano, Japan.

“It is easy to say our expectations are to win the B Pool World Championships in March and go to the Qualification Tournament of the end of 2013 and to get a slot for the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, but all teams would like to go to the Paralympics,” Disveld said.

“One bad day in the competition can throw you out of this race.”

Disveld was a member of the German team that finished fourth at the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, the squad that struck gold at the 2005 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships and the group that won bronze at the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey B Pool World Championships.

He originally joined the national team six years after being involved in a car accident, and because the Netherlands’ ice sledge hockey programme is fine with him playing for another country, there’s no issue with him being on Germany’s roster.

Here’s a closer look at Bas Disveld ...

Loves to play against: Teams on a hard and high level who also have fairness for the sport

Music preference: On my mp3 player is music from A to Z

Best travel experience: Torino 2006 Games and our training Camp at the US Olympic Training Centre in Colorado Springs

Most memorable game: Bronze-medal game against the USA in Torino

Wears jersey number: 3

Pet peeve: I hate when someone speaks great words but has no actions behind them

Pre-game meal: Chocolate and an apple

Post-game meal: Pasta

New Year’s resolution: To get more time with my family

Keep my medals in/at: They are hanging where my hockey clothes are

Name of first pet: Umbra

Most admired person: My wife