Green Bay native to represent USA Hockey in Italy

When Brad Roethlisberger heads to Italy for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the trip will represent far more than another international trip. For the Green Bay native, it is the continuation of a journey that began decades ago on local rinks and has grown into a global mission centered on access, opportunity, and the growth of para ice hockey.

Roethlisberger will serve as a USA representative and supervising official for para ice hockey at the upcoming Paralympics. It is a role he has held at multiple Games and world championships, placing him among the most experienced figures in the sport internationally.

Roethlisberger grew up playing youth hockey in Green Bay, starting around the age of five. Like many kids in the area, the rink became a second home. But his path in the sport shifted during high school, when he began officiating games.

“I wasn’t a very good player,” Roethlisberger said. “So it was a way for me to get additional ice time and earn a little bit of money as well.”

That decision proved pivotal. Early in his refereeing career, another referee offered advice that turned out to be as he described as "prophetic".

“One of the instructors came up to me and said, ‘Brad, I’ve seen you play and I’ve seen you officiate. Trust me, you’re not going anywhere as a player, but stick with reffing and you may go somewhere,’” Roethlisberger recalled.

Roethlisberger went on to officiate high-level NCAA Division I and Division III hockey, before his focus began shifting toward para ice hockey, also known as sled hockey.

His entry into sled hockey did not begin on the officiating side, but rather through coaching and program development. While serving on the board of the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association Roethlisberger heard a challenge issued at a meeting.

“Wisconsin’s a big hockey state. You guys should have a sled hockey team,” he recalled hearing from USA Hockey’s head of disabled hockey.

Intrigued, Roethlisberger took it upon himself to help make that happen. With little experience but plenty of determination, he tracked down used sleds from Colorado, shipped them to Wisconsin, and began organizing practices. For the first three years, just two athletes showed up consistently. Roethlisberger kept coming anyway.

Eventually, the program grew, merging with athletes from the Madison area and forming Wisconsin’s first true sled hockey team. Roethlisberger has coached the program for years, helping lay the foundation for Wisconsin para ice hockey. Today, Wisconsin has sled hockey teams in Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse, and the Green Bay area, with both youth and adult opportunities available.

That coaching experience opened the door to officiating sled hockey at the highest levels. In 2008, Roethlisberger officiated his first major para ice hockey event at the World Championships in Boston. Two years later, he found himself on the ice at the Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

To him, one moment still stands out above the rest.

Roethlisberger was selected to officiate the bronze medal game between Canada and Norway. Canada, who was heavily favored and playing in front of a packed home crowd, surrendered the game winning goal with just 3.2 seconds remaining.

“You just felt the air go out of the entire arena,” Roethlisberger said. “It was such an intense game. An unbelievable experience to be on the ice for that.”

Since then, his role has evolved from officiating games to recruiting and coaching officials. In 2019, he transitioned into an international officiating supervisor and coach, providing feedback, evaluations, and leadership at world championships and Paralympic events, including the upcoming games in Italy.

The U.S. men’s para ice hockey team enters the upcoming Paralympics as a heavy favorite, seeking an unprecedented fifth consecutive gold medal. Roethlisberger credits USA Hockey’s long-term investment for that success.

“They’ve really dedicated time and resources to developing the Paralympic team,” he said. “And it shows in the results.”

While the USA men’s program continues to thrive, Roethlisberger has also become a key figure in the push to grow women’s sled hockey. He helped spearhead the first and second Women’s World Challenges in Green Bay in 2022 and 2023. These served as stepping stones toward the sport’s first official Women’s World Championship which was held in Slovakia in 2025.

The ultimate goal is inclusion in the 2030 Paralympic Games.

“To be eligible, you need eight national teams and two world championships,” Roethlisberger explained. “We’re getting closer. The athletes are there. It often comes down to funding and awareness.”

Yet for Roethlisberger, the most meaningful moments are not found on the world stage.

He believes the true impact of sled hockey is best captured in a story shared by the mother of a young player named Matt. Matt, who uses a wheelchair, went to school and when classmates asked what he did over the weekend, his answer was simple: he played hockey.

“At the end of the day, everything was normal,” Roethlisberger said. “He didn’t say, ‘I played sled hockey.’ He said, ‘I played hockey.’ That’s what this is about.”

For Roethlisberger, that distinction still carries weight. He sees sled hockey as an avenue for athletes with physical disabilities to still compete and experience the sport. Later, Matt was invited to skate out with his high school team during senior night and was announced as part of the program. For Roethlisberger, moments like that define true success.

“They’re just athletes,” he said. “Who cares if they’re using two sticks instead of one, or sitting in a sled instead of wearing skates?”

As he prepares to head overseas once again, Roethlisberger continues to balance international responsibilities with hometown development, coaching youth sled hockey locally and pushing for growth statewide and beyond. His long-term goal is simple but ambitious: expand access, build visibility, and help create opportunities so that every athlete who wants to play hockey gets the chance.

Those interested in learning more about sled hockey or getting involved as an athlete, coach, or volunteer can reach out directly to Brad Roethlisberger at hockeyrefbar@sbcglobal.net for more information.