Editor's note: Contact7 seeks out audience tips and feedback to help people in need, resolve problems and hold the powerful accountable. If you know of a community need our call center could address, or have a story idea for our investigative team to pursue, please email us at contact7@thedenverchannel.com or call (720) 462-7777. Find more Contact7 stories here.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — When Pierce Grandchamp’s hockey bag was stolen from his truck Monday night, he didn’t just lose out on his sticks and pads. The bag contained his $3,000 custom sled that allows the athlete to play adaptive sled hockey, given the fact that he’s in a wheelchair due to a disability.
“I can’t believe they could take something so near and dear to my heart,” he told Contact7.
Grandchamp was born with Spina Bifida and requires the use of a wheelchair. He’s been playing sled hockey since he was 7-years-old and has been a part of three national championship teams while playing and coaching for Colorado Sled Hockey. He believes someone took the bag thinking there were valuables inside, when in fact his custom molded sled is no good to anyone but him.
“No one else will be able to fit in it or remotely use it,” he said, adding the only real thing someone could do with his prized possession is dump it or sell it for scrap metal.
Now Grandchamp is sidelined while searching for his sled. And the timing of the theft makes things worse.
“We have a tournament this weekend,” he said. “I won’t be able to be on the ice with my teammates.”
The plan is to fly to Phoenix on Friday. There isn’t enough time to re-mold and re-make a custom sled in time, so the hope is that something can happen before then.
“My most ideal situation is if the person would drop it in the back of my truck,” Grandchamp said. “I don’t care if they keep the pads I just want the sled.”
If he can’t locate the sled by Monday, the adaptive athlete says he will likely start a GoFundMe to replace it.
