With the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics in the rear-view mirror, it's time to start looking forward to the next big Olympics. And one good thing about Tokyo 2020 getting delayed to 2021 is that we now only have to wait several months for more Olympic action.
The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are less than three months away and for the second time in a span of six months, Team USA will be participating on the biggest stage, heading to Beijing for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. And as far as New Jersey athletes are concerned, sled hockey player Jack Wallace has quite the story.
Wallace was born in Ridgewood, N.J., then grew up in Franklin Lakes, N.J.. Jack Wallace grew up a huge fan of the New Jersey Devils. His love for the Devils inspired him to pursue a career in professional ice hockey. His idol was Martin Brodeur, legendary ice hockey goaltender who played all but one of his 22 years in the National Hockey League with the Devils. Growing up, Wallace always tried to model his ice hockey game after Brodeur.
"I actually have a Brodeur jersey up on the wall right next to me," said Jack Wallace. "So yeah, I grew up a New Jersey Devils fan. I grew up in North New Jersey. I played standup hockey until I was 10 years old and I played goalie and defense. When I played goalie, I tried to mimic Martin Brodeur as much as I could doing half butterfly and sprawling around the crease."
Jack Wallace (Photo courtesy of US Hockey)
Sadly, Jack Wallace's dreams of playing professional ice hockey were effectively ended during a camping trip to Lake George in 2008 when he was just 10 years old. He lost part of his right leg during a boating accident, putting him in the hospital for two months and in a coma for several days. After getting his leg amputated, Wallace aspired to get back on the ice and resume his dream of playing hockey in some way, shape, or form.
This lead to Wallace discovering sled hockey in 2009, a sport where he could still play the game he loved despite his amputated leg. Wallace played for a local New Jersey team, the Woodbridge Warriors, before joining the USA Hockey Sled Select Camp from 2010 to 2016. He also participated on the U.S. National Development Sled Hockey Team from 2013 to 2016 before joining the U.S. National Team in 2016. Since then, Wallace has won three medals with Team USA, winning silver in the 2017 World Championships in Gangneung, gold in the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games in PyeongChang, and gold in the 2019 World Championships in Ostrava.
"I never got to play high school hockey, but I'm actually super pumped," said Wallace. "The NHL Sled Classic this year is going to be held in Wayne, New Jersey, which is actually the rink that I learned how to skate at. So, I'm super excited. The Devils are sponsoring a team and going to be a really fun time playing sled hockey with the New Jersey Devils jersey on."
Jack Wallace Focused on Making Paralympic Team, Then Medaling
Now Jack Wallace is hopeful to be heading to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. There, he has his eyes on two things, and that is making the roster and winning his second Paralympic gold medal.
"Got to stay humble, haven't made the roster yet," said Wallace. "I'm super excited to have the opportunity to potentially go to another Paralympic games coming off the momentum from World Championships this year. We're looking to cruise right
into the games with gold. Gold's on our mindset, so that's the goal."
The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games begin on March 4, 2022 with the Opening Ceremony and end on March 13, 2022 with the Closing Ceremony.
