20 in 10: Sledge Hockey player Andy Yohe

20 in 10 is www.teamusa.org's latest segment in which we have been featuring Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls for the Winter Games in Vancouver in 10-minute interviews. The Paralympic Winter Games begin March 12, with events in Vancouver and in the mountains of Whistler.

Andy Yohe of Bettendorf, Iowa, is the captain of the U.S. sledge hockey team at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Yohe, 31, was also a member of the U.S. team that won a bronze medal at the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.

Yohe was a star roller hockey player on a team he helped create with his friends as a teenager. In 1994, he lost both legs while attempting to jump a train. He began playing sledge hockey in 2003, and immediately found success. He set a rookie record for scoring in 2004 with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Blackhawks Sled Hockey team.

Before the 2010 Japan Para Ice Sledge Hockey Championships, Yohe switched from forward to defense on Team USA. He is looking forward to trying out his new position and earning another Paralympic medal in Vancouver.

Chrös McDougall of Red Line Editorial recently caught up with Andy for this interview.

Q: Coming into these Paralympic Winter Games as the bronze medalists from 2006, how do you feel about Team USA's chances in Vancouver?

The team is doing really well. They've really come together over the last year. We've won the last three tournaments that we've played. Everybody feels good, everybody looks good, so our expectations are high.

Q: How did you find out that you had been named team captain?

I found out I was captain of the team last year. The coaches sat me down and talked to me about their decision, so it was an honor. I'm real proud of the team we have here; all the guys get along real well, so the team chemistry is great.

Q: What are going to be the keys to success for your team?

I believe our keys to success are hard work, a really hard forecheck, and just keeping a really high level of intensity every game, every shift.

Q: Having been in Vancouver for a few days now, what are your thoughts about the city?

I've been to Vancouver-it's my third time here-I absolutely love the city. I think all the guys feel the same way. The village is set up very well. My only other Paralympics experience is Torino, and so far Vancouver has done a great job with everything they've done. The volunteers are nice, it's all good people. It's been an overall great experience so far in Vancouver.

Q: You graduated from Ashford (Iowa) University with a degree in business administration last year. Have you put it to use yet, or what are your plans for that following these Paralympic Winter Games?

I have put it to use a little bit. I had a job in sales last year that was related to my degree. I quit my job January 14 in Rochester (N.Y.) to move back to my hometown in Iowa. So as soon as I get back, I will be looking to secure employment somewhere else. Not sure what I will be doing, but will be looking to start a new career. I have a baby girl due on June 6, so life will be changing dramatically.

Q: Congratulations! Will your wife be able to make it to Vancouver to watch the tournament?

Yes, her, her mom, my parents, my brothers, and we have about 20 friends coming also.

Q: With a new daughter on the way, will this be your last Paralympic Winter Games?

I'm playing it all by ear. If you ask my wife, she will tell you that I probably won't play again. But I never say never. You never know what the future holds, so I will definitely be taking at least a year off from the team, so we'll see what happens.

Q: You're bio lists some of your favorite bands or artists as the Beastie Boys, AC/DC and Pink Floyd. What, if anything, will you be listening to get you ready before a big game in Vancouver?

Definitely before a game I like to listen to something a little more up-tempo. I do like the AC/DC a lot, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, stuff like that; stuff we've got in the locker room, stuff that will really pump us up, some Dropkick Murphys.

Q: Can you talk a bit about why you made the switch from forward to defense before this season?

That wasn't my choice. It was the coaching staff that made that decision, but I didn't mind it at all. It's definitely a little bit of a change; this is only my second tournament playing defense so I'm pretty exciting about it. I like the position a lot, it definitely requires more ice time, which I am all for.

Another forward, Taylor Chace, got moved to defense, and the two of us are pretty offensive minded defensemen, so we will have to remember not to jump into the play all the time.

Q: Are you guys defensive partners?

No, for that very reason we are not partners. We will be out there on the power play, but not regularly.

Q: Can you talk a bit about your roller hockey career? How did you get into that sport, and how far did you advance within it?

My friends and I kind of started our own team. We started playing roller hockey; originally we played pond hockey but there were no organized hockey leagues in our community, so we started playing and formed our own team and did all of our own stuff. At the time, we were 16, 17, and we paid our own way and went to tournaments in Madison, Wis., St. Louis, Chicago, a lot of big cities. It was a lot of fun; we just had a ball.

Q: Why do you think you were able to make such a strong transition to sledge hockey after your accident?

I think just my work ethic. I worked really hard at getting better. I love being out there so it's easy to work hard when you're having fun. I definitely think that that had a lot to do with it. I've had a couple really good coaches, who have really helped me understand the nuances of the game.

Q: What brought you out to West Henrietta, N.Y.?

I was in West Henrietta in order to train harder. Our coach is from West Henrietta-which is in Rochester. He managed a rink there with four sheets of ice, so I got pretty unlimited ice time. So obviously that's the best situation for me, so my wife and I moved out there from February 2009 to February 2010.

Q: Were you able to watch much of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games?

Yeah. I watched every U.S. hockey game, women's and men's.

Q: What is it like watching the other U.S. athletes having so much success?

It was awesome; it really inspires us, it really drives us to at least match them. We'd like to bring (a gold medal) home for (USA Hockey). We'll do everything we can to make that happen.

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Chrös McDougall is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of any National Governing Bodies.

 

Tags: 20 in 10, Andy Yohe, Chrös McDougall, sledge hockey, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games