Dan McCoy (sledge hockey)
Daniel Frank McCoy (born January 24, 1994) is an ice sled hockey player from the US and former 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. The US defeated Russia 1–0 in the final. McCoy retired from international competition in 2018 but continues to play within North America on the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey Senior team where is a player/coach. See penguinssledhockey.org. 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. Biographical Information. 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. His older brother, Andrew, is a Fellow in Pediatrics Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado's Children's Hospital. 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 could not 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. McCoy is an ACE certified personal trainer and is certified in CPR/AED. His passion is helping those with or without disabilities improve their physical well-being but setting and meeting fitness goals. More information can be found at www.danmccoyfitness.com. In addition to playing sled hockey, McCoy enjoys handcycling and has competed in several Pittsburgh Marathons. Sled Hockey Career Highlights. Summary Paralympic Winter Games IPC Sled Hockey World Championship World Sled Hockey Challenge