Rink Rat: Declan Farmer

Declan Farmer

No.16

U.S. National Sled Team

 

BIO

Position: Forward

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 135 pounds

Birthday: Nov. 5, 1997 (21 years old)

Hometown: Tampa, Fla.

College: PrincetonUniversity

Current Team: Tampa Bay Lightning Sled Hockey

 

SNAPSHOTS

Nickname: Dexter

Favorite TV Show: The Office or Game of Thrones

Favorite Off-Season Activities: I'm really into fantasy football and hanging with my high school friends over the summer

Favorite Movie: The Dark Knight

Pre-Game Meal: I like pasta, some tomato sauce and a salad. I like Italian food a lot, so I usually have that before games if I can.

Favorite Music Genre: I like alternative, but also whatever is playing in the locker room 

One Person You'd Like To Meet: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Favorite Hockey Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Role Model: When I started going into sled hockey it was guys on the National Team that were really good like Steve Cash and Josh Pauls, and of course my parents. 

Favorite Sled Hockey Memory: The gold-medal game from this past Paralympics in PyeongChang, winning in overtime against Canada.

What Inspired You To Play Sled Hockey: I started playing when I was 8. My parents were looking for an adaptive sport for me to be competitive in and they got me into sled hockey. After a few years of casual play, I picked it up and wanted to see how far I could take it.

What You'd Like To Improve On This Season: This year I've been trying to get more explosive with the puck. In this game, it's so difficult to even skate with the puck because you have to do everything with your hands. Even just coming to a dead stop with the puck, coming out of the corner, performing little explosive moves. I think perfecting that craft is something I'm working on this year.

Three Things You Love Most About Sled Hockey: The camaraderie - hanging out with the team is a blast and traveling with them; the compete level - sled hockey is such a competitive game; and the speed of the game. It's a great time out there. 

 

FUN FACT

Declan's 134 career points are the most in U.S. National Sled Team history. 

"I want to take a year or two off and focus on hockey and the next Paralympics. After that I'll see. If I'd like to work in hockey. I have such a passion for it and I can't really see myself giving it up."

Declan's plans after graduating from Princeton University with degrees in Economics

 

SOCIAL SIDE

Twitter: @6DFarmer

Instagram: @Declan_Farmer

 

Issue: 
2019-02

Poll

Who is your favorite American player?
Auston Matthews
21%
Jason Robertson
6%
Tage Thompson
10%
Matthew Tkachuk
7%
Patrick Kane
23%
Other
33%
Total votes: 365