Wallace a Story of Triumph over Tragedy | PODCAST

New Jersey native Jack Wallace, 23, grew up with the same dream as many in the state, he wanted to play in the National Hockey League.
The lifelong Devils fan played the sport of hockey in his youth, but his dream - and entire life - changed following a waterskiing accident that resulted in his right leg being amputated above the knee.
"I thought sports were over for me," Wallace told the Speak of the Devils podcast.
However, that was before he discovered the sport of sled hockey - one in which players are seated in sleds and hold two mini hockey sticks with a blade at one end and pic at the other to both propel themselves forward and stickhandle.
Wallace began playing at the Ice Vault in Wayne, New Jersey for a club team. His dream of playing in the NHL was gone, but a new one would soon emerge.
When Wallace was 11 years old, 2010 Paralympic sled hockey gold-medalist, and another New Jersey native, Josh Pauls visited Wallace and his teammates at the Ice Vault with his gold.
"He brought that gold medal back to our local program and showed it to me," Wallace recounted. "That's really when it happened, and I set my sights on potentially making the U.S. National and Paralympics Team."

Wallace would go on to realize both dreams, earning a spot on Team USA's 2018 Paralympics team and winning his very own gold medal.
"It's an absolute honor. It gives me goosebumps anytime I think about it," he said of competing for his country. "We're all representing our country on the world stage at the biggest level. Not a lot of words can describe it. I get chills just thinking about it."
He and his teammates, who are currently training every day in Nashville for the upcoming Games, have a rule before games.
"You're not allowed to put your jersey on (alone)," he said. "It's the most important thing. It's what we're all fighting for, being able to put the USA jersey on your chest. We set a time in the locker room, no matter your warmup routine you're not allowed to put the jersey on, unless it's at that time. We all do it together at the same time. It's that final solidifying moment."
This weekend Wallace will be putting on a different jersey, a Devils jersey as the organization will ice a team for the first time ever for, as well
as hosting, the USA Hockey Sled Classic
. The tournament takes place where it all began for Wallace, at the Ice Vault in Wayne, New Jersey.
"(Sled hockey keeps) getting bigger and bigger. The Devils are going to be sponsoring their first team at the Sled Classic, bringing plenty of notoriety to sled hockey in New Jersey," he said. "Hopefully the club teams can start flourishing again like when I first joined, and I'm super excited to be a part of that."
Wallace's life and achievements are a testament of triumph over tragedy, turning a horrific situation into an inspiring story.
"From the time I could walk to right now my life has revolved around sports," he said. "I pride myself in being an athlete. Even if you're not at an elite level, even if you're not trying to go to the NHL, or the Olympics, or the Paralympics, it really can still change your life in a positive way."
Here are some other topics covered in the podcast…
New Jersey Devils Official Podcast
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Jack Wallace | Speak of the Devils