Brett Bolton Turned Disappointment into Triumph with Para Hockey Cup Performance
Brett Bolton turned one of the lowest points of his career into a championship.
Bolton scored the winning goal for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in the 2025 Para Hockey Cup championship game against Canada. With the 2-0 victory in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, the Americans secured their 10th straight Para Hockey Cup title.
“I give a lot of credit to the guys before my time on the team here to help build this dynasty,” Bolton said. “I hope to continue it in the future.”
The 19-year-old Bolton made his debut with the national team during the 2022-23 season and recently played in his ninth international tournament with the group.
After playing in the World Para Ice Hockey Championship in 2023 and 2024, Bolton didn’t make the U.S. roster for the 2025 tournament, which took place this past May in Buffalo. However, he didn’t allow the disappointment to linger.
“Getting cut in Buffalo stung a lot,” Bolton said. “It was probably one of my lowest moments as an athlete, but I really was able to take advantage of my summer conditioning and training.”
Bolton, a native of Rockledge, Florida, is a sophomore at the University of Colorado, where he is pursuing a double major in finance and accounting, with a minor in leadership.
Bolton regularly trains with U.S. star forward Declan Farmer — a fellow Florida native — and close to 10 other members of the U.S. roster as he has his sights set on the upcoming 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
“I kind of had my eye on Milan-Cortina as a little bit of redemption,” Bolton said. “I was able to practice in Boulder with Declan and a lot of my other teammates in the Colorado area. I’m trying to put it together and still trying to make the roster before the coaches make the final decision.”
Bolton enjoyed a standout Para Hockey Cup with four goals and six points in five games. Bolton not only had the game-winning goal in the championship, but he also tallied a hat trick against China in the semifinals to help propel the U.S. to the title game.
“I’ve been hoping for a breakout year, and I really hope this tournament does that for me,” Bolton said. “I never scored a hat trick before. It was very fun.”
Bolton chose to attend Colorado in part to live close to Farmer and other elite players who train in the area.
He admits there was a learning curve during his freshman year of college.
“Last year, everything was new to me,” Bolton said. “It was a personal growing moment because I was living on my own for the first time, living in a new state and not really knowing exactly how to live life. Honestly, that kind of affected some of my game last season.”
U.S. head coach David Hoff and Bolton reflected on his growth at the rink during the early stages of the tournament.
“We talked about where he was last year as a freshman in college and maybe things were just a little hectic and just how he feels like he’s grown as a person,” Hoff said. “I told him that when you grow as a person, you grow as a player and right now we have such a more responsible hockey player.”
Bolton earned Hoff’s trust, as he was placed on the top line with Farmer, and the move paid off, particularly in the championship game.
At the 8:05 mark of the first period, Bolton was at the top of the crease when he deflected a pass from Noah Grove across the goal line for the eventual winner.
“Sometimes I’m a little sneaky out there,” Bolton said. “A lot of eyes are on [Farmer], so wherever he skates, everyone else kind of follows. Noah sent me the puck, and it was really just a one-touch pass. The pass came through and it was an easy tap in.”
Hoff saw the goal a little differently.
“[Bolton] and Noah basically created the opportunity, so it wasn’t Declan necessarily in that picture,” Hoff said. “He’s taking advantage of his opportunities.”
It’s all attributed to Bolton’s growth as a person and a player, in addition to his hard work that not only brought him redemption but helped the U.S. continue its dominance at the Para Hockey Cup.
The U.S., which went undefeated at the Para Hockey Cup for the seventh consecutive tournament, has now won the tournament 12 times.
Bolton hopes to win more championships with the group in the future, including this March in Italy at what would be his Paralympic debut.
“Just being able to put it together and feel like I was capable … that’s what really got me there,” Bolton said. “It was pretty fun and I’m excited to see what’s next.”
