In 2012, Gunnery Sergeant Ralph DeQuebec deployed with 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion to Afghanistan. On June 21, GySgt DeQuebec was disarming an improvised explosive device when it detonated. As a result of the blast, Ralph lost both legs above the knee. He endured four years of recovery and rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. With the help of his FourBlock mentor, he discovered that he responds best, both physically and mentally, to recreational therapy; in particular, he fell in love with sled hockey.

In 2016, Ralph retired from the Marine Corps and began pursuing his dream of playing in the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, Korea. In 2017, he was named co-captain of the US National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. And in January 2018, Ralph was selected to play with the gold-medal-winning U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in PyeongChang. In March 2018, Ralph took home the gold with Team USA during the 2018 Winter Paralympics Games, helping Team USA rise to the top through three assists over three games. 

In 2018, Ralph was inducted into the Los Angeles Sportswalk of Fame. In 2019, Ralph and Team USA went undefeated en route to capturing the gold medal at the 2019 Para Sled Hockey World Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

In June of 2020, Ralph and Team USA took home the gold at the 2021 IPC Para Ice World Championship in the Czech Republic! Last March, Ralph and Team USA again took home the gold at the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing. 

While he continues to train, Ralph is also committed to helping others who have similar dreams to play sled hockey. He now coaches and mentors disabled veterans and disabled youth, while still playing with Team USA.

With support from the Inspire Games, Ralph has been able to host training camps in Denver, which included national teammates and a large group of aspiring sled hockey players from the local Denver Community. Ralph was able to organize and fund the training camp with some of the proceeds from the previous years' Inspire Games!

At this year’s Inspire Games, we will celebrate Ralph’s continued successes and his amazing journey from serving our country on the battlefield to representing us on the ice.