Musselman goes from Blue Jackets sled hockey to Team USA

Ben Musselman was born with spida bifida, as well as the attitude that he was still going to make the most of his life despite the condition.

Despite the fact he has no feeling below his waist, he'd always been energetic and eager to take on challenges. As he hit 12 years old, someone suggested he should try wheelchair track as a way to compete, in the way kids his age do on Little League teams and soccer squads across the country.

And, well, it didn't work. But something soon did.

"I tried that once and I absolutely hated it," he said. "Then it was, 'Maybe try sled hockey. It might be a little more your speed.' So I got in touch with a lady here in Cincinnati that started a small junior team, and I went out there and tried it for the first time and just fell in love with it from the first time I was on the ice. It's been something I've been addicted to ever since."

That addiction has paid off, as Musselman leaves this week to join Team USA for the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championships in Moose Jaw, Sasketchewan.

A native of Amelia, Ohio, outside of Cincinnati and a past member of the Columbus Blue Jackets sled hockey team, Musselman has made the jump from the national development team to the full squad, and this will be the marquee event to this point in the 22-year-old forward's career.

Next week's games will include preliminary play vs. Czechia on Monday, Korea on Tuesday and Canada on Wednesday before the knockout round is held over the weekend with a gold medal on the line.

"It's the biggest thing I've been a part of thus far," Musselman said. "I made the junior national team when I was 15 and I was on that team until just this past year, so it's been a long journey, but it's been pretty cool to make it and be part of this team."

It's been quite a journey for Musselman, who was born in China suffering from spina bifida, a birth defect that impacts about 1 in every 2,000 children. For those diagnosed with spina bifida, an area of the spinal column doesn't form properly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed through an opening in the back.

Musselman needed major surgery early in life, and he was adopted by Mark and Amy Musselman. He grew up with the family in suburban Cincinnati and always showed an aptitude for going above and beyond what some might think his body could do.

That served him well when he first skated onto the ice at Northland Ice Center as part of the Cincinnati IceBreakers program put together by Renee Loftspring. Musselman had never been much a hockey fan previously, but something about the speed and challenge of the game hooked him immediately.

"I started out because it was just fun, but it's become a lot more than that to me now," Musselman said. "The friendships that I've made and everything along the way, it's more than a game to me now."

Along the way, Musselman has picked up more of an affinity for the sport of hockey whether it's the NHL level or the sled version. While he's not watching every night from his home in the Queen City, he said he's become a fan of the Blue Jackets, and being part of the CBJ sled team has been an honor.

"Thart part of it is so cool, especially now that I've become a Blue Jackets fan," he said. "Being able to wear that jersey, it's been awesome."

The sled hockey scene in Cincinnati is small but mighty, as on the women's side, Queen City high school student Jamie Benassi played last year for the U.S. national team in the first women's para hockey world challenge.

For Musselman, the long-term dream is to qualify for the Paralympics in 2026, and given his exploits thus far with the national team, it would not be a huge surprise if that happens. Musselman previously made his national team debut at the International Para Hockey Cup in Ostrava, Czechia, last year, posting four goals in five games at the tournament. He also had a 2-5-7 line in five games at the Para Hockey Cup last year in Nova Scotia.

With continued growth in mind, Musselman said he is looking into moving to Colorado this summer simply because there are more high-level players there. He has big dreams, and while he'll always represent Ohio wherever he goes, the chance to compete and be with close friends could be the next step on something great.

"With this group of guys, it's really an honor to be able to put on the Stars and Stripes and represent Team USA," he said. "It's one thing being part of this team, but it's another thing being part of a team where you really enjoy everybody on the team and you guys get along. It just makes winning and playing together that much cooler."