The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games started today! We had the honor and privilege to speak with Pittsburgh native and Team USA Paralympic Sled Hockey player Dan McCoy. Dan, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, spent many of his early years in and out of hospitals.

READ BRANDON RUBEO’S ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE

When he was five years old Dan decided to give sled hockey a try.

“I really enjoyed watching my older brother play hockey as well as watching the Pittsburgh Penguins with my dad and brother.  At first I thought it was cold, there was a lot of heavy equipment, and it was hard. I didn’t enjoy it right away.”

As Dan got more comfortable on the ice and grasped the fundamentals of the game he started to enjoy sled hockey.  At a young age Dan had a very ambitious goal.

“When I was eight I was participating in a tournament in Canada where they were showing the 2002 Paralympics on TV and realized I knew a couple names on the team. Right then and there I decided I wanted to play on the US national team someday in the Paralympics. It’s been my goal ever since.”

Tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM, nearly 12 years later, Dan will achieve his dream of playing in the Paralympics against Team Italy!

Join us in wishing this inspiring young man good luck on his quest for gold!