Six-time sled hockey champion Bill Bogdan in a prerecorded message to be played prior to the Steel's game on Feb. 16, 2025. Life had barely begun for Bill Bogdan when it was almost snuffed out. At eight months, Bogdan was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma. The surgery that removed a tumor from his spinal cord saved his life, but left him an incomplete paraplegic. Numerous other surgeries and tests followed Bogdan through his early years. He never gave much thought to sports, since he had no knowledge of adaptive sports growing up. That all changed when he watched Team USA capture a gold medal in sled hockey at the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake City. Working in the office of then-Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley at the time, Bogdan met Paralympic gold medalist Patrick Byrne, who encouraged him to give the sport a try. That chance encounter changed Bogdan’s life. He went on to play for the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Blackhawks and won six championships of his own. He also took up scuba diving through Diveheart, an area nonprofit dedicated to building confidence, independence and self-esteem through the therapeutic benefits of scuba diving. Bogdan, who serves on Diveheart’s board, has dedicated his life to sharing his powerful story and creating opportunities for others. He will make an appearance at Rookies Sports Bar and Grill, 1996 S Kirk Rd. in Geneva, Ill. On Saturday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 Pm CT. Attendees can hear Bogdan’s story, learn more about Diveheart’s mission and see a hockey sled from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Additionally, Bogdan will perform the ceremonial puck drop at the Chicago Steel game against the Youngstown Phantoms Feb. 16 at 3:05 Pm. Diveheart will also be the featured charity during the game. Tickets purchased through a special link [https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?orgid=56250&agency=CSHV_PL_MPV#/sales_group_code;salesGroupId=5340] using the offer code DIVEIN will be discounted, and $5 from each ticket sold will go directly toward Diveheart’s programs.
