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Dan McCoy (sledge hockey)

Dan McCoy
DanMcCoy.jpg
McCoy in 2015
Personal information
Full name Daniel Frank McCoy
Born (1994-01-24) January 24, 1994 (age 23)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Years active 2003–present
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight 145 lb (66 kg)
Sport
Country  United States
Sport Ice sledge hockey
Position Forward
Disability Spina Bifida
Club Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey (2000-present)
Team U.S. National Sled Hockey

Daniel McCoy (born January 24, 1994) is an ice sledge hockey player from the USA and Member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Dan took part in the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, where USA won the gold medal. They defeated Russia 1-0 in the final.

McCoy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Born with spina bifida, McCoy has been an inspiration for perseverance and determination as he continues to challenge himself to rise above his disability.

Daniel Frank McCoy was born at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh to Mark and Angela(née Piluso) McCoy. McCoy was born with myelomeningocele (Spina Bifida) at lumbar area 3-4 which has resulted in partial paralysis.

At the age of 5, McCoy was introduced to the sport of sled hockey by volunteers from Shriners Hospital in Erie, PA who traveled to Pittsburgh twice a month to provide sports therapy for individuals with physical disabilities in the area. At the time, McCoy's three-year-older brother Andrew was beginning to play stand-up hockey. McCoy knew that physically he couldn't play hockey like his brother but found that sled hockey, where players sit in sleds and propel themselves using two mini hockey sticks equipped with picks on one end, was as challenging. McCoy is one of the original players in the Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey organization and still competes with the senior team as captain.

At the age of 8, McCoy watched the 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympic Games in which a fellow Mighty Penguins player, Josh Wirt, was a member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Seeing Team U.S.A win gold inspired a dream in McCoy to one day compete for the U.S. at the Paralympics.

At the age of 14, McCoy was selected for the U.S. Development Sled Hockey Team (Junior Sled Hockey team). At the age of 16, he was selected for the U.S. National Sled Hockey team. His dream of competing for his country came true when he traveled to Sochi in 2014 and competed in the Paralympic's sledge hockey games bringing home gold.


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