Lou Mulvihill is shown with Renfrew Mayor Tom Sidney, who dubbed him “Renfrew’s own hometown hero.”

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Renfrew – One could easily argue Lou Mulvihill is the father of sledge hockey.

Back in the day, anyone who wanted to participate in the national winter sport needed to be able-bodied, have the ability to skate and provide their own equipment. That all began to change when Mr. Mulvihill stepped in with a vision to revolutionize the sport forever.

Determined to make the game more accessible, he laid the groundwork for a version where physical limitations were no longer a barrier to getting on the ice. Fast forward to today, and players still use his inventions for competitions on the world stage.

His lifelong dedication was honoured last week with the unveiling of a new exhibit at the myFM Centre in Renfrew, which joins the NHA/NHL birthplace museum as a new monument to hockey history. Three giant displays with decades of sledge hockey artifacts were revealed at the BEI Arena on Thursday as dozens of friends, family and local public figures marked the occasion.

A captain of the Canadian sledge hockey team for many years, Mr. Mulvihill’s memorabilia includes everything from one of his first sled prototypes, weighing about 50 pounds, to his bronze medal from the 1994 Winter Paralympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

Glenn Charron, curator and archivist with the McDougall Mill Museum, thanked Mr. Mulvihill for his generosity, revolutionizing accessible sport and for his steadfast community dedication.

“His generosity set the wheels in motion. Many individuals and groups played a role in bringing his vision to life,” he said. “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks.

“It has been a privilege to work with Lou and share his story. His passion for sledge hockey, coupled with his creativity and innovation is truly inspiring.”

Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault honoured Mr. Mulvihill for his contributions to the community. He thanked him for being a beacon of resilience and making para ice hockey accessible to all.

“He has not only elevated sledge hockey’s profile but also showcased the incredible talent that exists right here in the community,” he said. “We are eternally grateful for his selfless act of donating to this exhibit to become a permanent fixture in this arena.”

Mr. Denault added Mr. Mulvihill’s contributions on and off the ice have been instrumental in reminding people that sports are for everyone and raising awareness of the importance of inclusivity.

“I just want to say, I was personally touched by Lou’s story and I’m really grateful to be a part of this celebration.”

Mayor Tom Sidney thanked Mr. Mulvihill for his incredible support to the game over the years, describing him as one of the town’s hometown heroes.

“Today we have the honour of recognizing Lou’s outstanding accomplishments,” he said. “It’s especially meaningful that this exhibit finds its home right here in the BEI ice pad, the heart of sledge hockey in Renfrew.

“We are fortunate to have this incredible facility in our town, a place where athletes of all abilities can come together to compete, train and grow in the spirit of the sport and community.”

The crowd then heard from NHA/NHL Birthplace Museum Board Chair John Hunt, who highlighted Mr. Mulvihill’s determination to not only claim the sport of sledge hockey but also help other players excel on the international stage.

“He designed his own sledge,” he remarked. “He found the initial ones weren’t really easy to get around the ice on, and he made several improvements over the years.”

He thanked him on behalf of the museum for donating one of his sticks with signatures from, “Mr. Hockey,” Gordie Howe and Tie Domi.

“On a closing note, I just want to mention that one of Lou’s former referees I worked with, his name was Mark Gallant, he said a lot of things about him and that they called him for days.”

He added his former colleague said he’s a “first-class guy,” before asking the crowd to join in on congratulating him for his successes.

Mr. Mulvihill thanked the dozens of visitors, and went on to give his legacy some background.

“I was first introduced to sledge hockey in 1988. It was a lady from Medicine Hat, Alberta, that got a grant from the federal government to take it to all the major cities across Canada,” he said.

He was playing with the Renfrew Collegiate Institute’s wheelchair basketball team at the time but shifted his focus almost immediately. He explained his love for the newfound sport, saying gliding along the ice felt like floating and was reminiscent of his days as a cross-country runner.

He gave a lot of credit for his success in the game to the community where it started, saying he couldn’t have done it if others hadn’t got “the itch” too.

“When it was first brought to Ottawa, two of the younger disabled people in the community, their parents took on the management, renting the ice and buying the equipment. If they hadn’t done that, I couldn’t have done what I did,” he noted.

“They wanted their kids to play as well and have fun. That’s basically what the whole thing is,” Mr. Mulvihill continued. “When you first start playing hockey, it’s all about recreation and having fun. Then, the better you are, the better you get, and then of course, the higher level you go. It’s the same thing with sledge hockey. I’m very humbled to have been able to do this.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done to immortalize me here.”

Mr. Mulvihill suffered an incomplete sever of his spinal cord when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in August 1971 as he was travelling to Calabogie. He was 18 at the time and the accident changed his life forever. He credits his medical team in Toronto, his family and friends, for getting him through the various situations after the mishap that allowed him to eventually find his passion for sledge hockey.