How Townsville athlete Damon Jaenke became Queensland’s only Aussie Ice Roo
Damon Jaenke will have the rare chance to represent his country in a winter sport when he joins the Aussie Ice Roos at the para ice hockey 2024 World Championships. Find out how the unusual opportunity came about.
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A North Queensland athlete will have the rare opportunity to represent his country in a winter sport when he joins the Australian Ice Roos for the para ice hockey 2024 World Championships C-Pool in November.
Damon Jaenke was born with spina bifida, a condition that means he has used a wheelchair for his entire life, though it has never stopped him chasing his sporting dreams.
The 32-year-old has been playing wheelchair basketball since he was 10, but a chance decision to try his hand at ice hockey in early 2023 instigated a journey that has led to international selection.
“It was the Paralympics Australia come and try day with all different sports about 18 months ago. I went along and loved it and I got invited to a camp down south,” Jaenke said.
“Four weeks later I was over in Thailand for an international development camp.
“My introduction to ice hockey was watching Mighty Ducks as a kid, so not too much para ice hockey, but it’s very much like wheelchair basketball where you’ve got five on the ice at the same time and an objective to score.
“I just translate from that, that’s why I think I’ve been able to move up the ranks so quickly.”
For those who have not watched para ice hockey, players are seated on specialised sleds and use two one-handed sticks to both handle the puck and also propel themselves with the spikes found on the butt-end.
Jaenke said not only does he have to watch out for big hits and flying pucks, he also routinely finds himself stabbed by opponents’ sticks.
“It’s actually the fastest winter para team sport on the planet and it’s regarded as a collision sport,” Jaenke said.
“You don’t hold back out there. You’re fully padded as well so go for gold.
“The stick ends cop your legs all of the time and I can confirm they hurt. I’ve added pads on my thighs because I got sick of being stabbed.
“I’ve been hit in the face with the puck, onto my helmet of course, and it’s quite scary – it actually shook me the first time it happened.
“There was one incident at the nationals in August where a player in front of me got smacked and if he didn’t get smacked it was coming for me.
“He got a concussion from that, so it can be quite scary.”
Jaenke’s rapid rise through the national pecking order has seen him quickly become Queensland’s only Ice Roos representative.
The centre or left wing said his biggest challenge so far had actually been off the ice, paying for his own specialised equipment, travel, accommodation and ice time for training.
“There’s nothing, it’s all self-funded. Blades alone cost $300 and I just bought a new pair for worlds,” Jaenke said.
“I need new sticks as well, they’re $150 each and then with flights and accommodation worlds will cost me about nine grand – so I’m working for worlds these days.
“I’m more than happy to chat with anybody about support.”
The World Championships begin November 25 with Australia set to face Finland, Austria and Thailand in a round robin before playoffs for promotion to B-Pool.
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Originally published as How Townsville athlete Damon Jaenke became Queensland’s only Aussie Ice Roo
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