17-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Member of Men’s U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team
17-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Member of Men’s U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team
Michael NiedFri, February 27, 2026 at 7:03 PM UTC
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Team USA sled hockey athlete Liam Cunningham in February 2025Credit: Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty -
At 17 years old, Team USA Paralympian Liam Cunningham is the youngest athlete to represent the United States in the 2026 Paralympics
The athlete was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disorder in his childhood, which has led him to undergo multiple surgeries
Now he's competing for a chance to take home his first gold medal while making history on the ice
Liam Cunningham will make history when he takes the ice at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena for Team USA during the 2026 Paralympics.
The 17-year-old athlete from Minnesota is officially the youngest player to join the sled hockey team for Team USA, which faces off against Italy in a preliminary game on March 7, according to the official schedule from this year's Games.
The Games will continue through the bronze and gold medal face-offs, which are scheduled for March 15.
Liam Cunningham practicing ahead of the 2026 Paralympic GamesCredit: Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty
Cunningham told KARE 11 that his Minnesota roots inspired a love of hockey from a young age. According to his bio on the Team USA website, his brothers are also hockey players who skate for the U.S. Naval Academy, proving the sport is in their blood.
However, his journey to the ice was different than his brothers' after he was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disorder. Speaking to KARE 11, Cunningham described his diagnosis as "a type of brittle bones."
Since being diagnosed, Cunningham has broken bones and undergone "more than a dozen surgeries," Dr. Andrew Georgiadis at Gillette Children's told the outlet.
Georgiadis described the procedures as "by and large maximally invasive, meaning there wasn't only a surgical risk, but there was also an interruption to his personal life."
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The discovery of sled hockey allowed Cunningham to make his hockey dreams a reality.
While it was "just a nice escape" for him at first, the sport has become more serious over the years as Cunningham has gotten more competitive.
Liam Cunningham in February 2025Credit: Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty
At only 15, he became a part of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and competed in the Para Hockey Cup. He's also been on the U.S. team at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships, according to his Team USA bio.
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Reflecting on his journey in an interview with the NHL, Cunningham said that he "really just put [his] head down and worked hard," hoping to make the national team. His ambitions have only grown from there and will continue as he represents his home country in Italy during the Games.
"I’m hoping to be a part of another gold medal team. That's our goal. That's what we have been working for these past few years. We're super excited to showcase our work,” he told KARE 11.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
