The Colorado Sled Hockey Association is based in Littleton, Colorado, about 20 minutes south of Denver, and was founded in 1995. A year later, he joined the Avalanche, becoming the first NHL-affiliated sled hockey team.
The association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with A, B and C travel teams as well as youth teams. His home rinks are in Denver and Littleton, and his Greeley Ice House in Greeley, Colorado, about an hour north of Denver, also offers his one-hour open ice most Sundays exclusively for sled hockey players.
Devore, a U.S. Army veteran who worked as a vehicle mechanic for eight years, lost his leg above the knee in a coal mine accident in 2011. His first try at sled hockey in 2016 provided a much-needed outlet.
“That gave me motivation,” DeVore said. “That was the driving force that shaped me into the person I am today. At various events, he was able to see the whole community, and as he was interacting with people, he said, 'Wow, this is something I've never been a part of before. I thought, “It's a community.''
Marty Richardson, president of Colorado's Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation, which donates to struggling families in the U.S. and Canada, said Devore has “a ton of really great adjectives” that make him worthy of the award. Stated.
“I would start with “leader,'' which stems from my sports-oriented background in high school to serving my country and becoming a true leader and president of Colorado Sled Hockey, the world's first sled hockey organization. I think I will,'” said Richardson, a three-time Willie O'Ree Award finalist from 2021 to 2023.
“Resilience is a big thing for him. So is determination and positivity. Jerry is a visionary and sees opportunities not only for himself but for others who have not yet tried sledding. He will say, “What if I do this?” What if he could add this to his program? He may not be the last guy to do it, but he's the guy who thinks about these things. [The association is] It's great and they end up saving a lot of lives. ”
DeVore found his home in the Colorado Sled Hockey Association. He also wants to welcome others into the community.
“It gives them a purpose,” DeVore said. “And ultimately, I think the best thing is that when you give someone a purpose, you never know what they’re going to turn into.”
