Mitch Calvert
If you were born with a disability, the world of sports was something you viewed solely as an outsider.
Sure, you could cheer for a brother or sister from the stands, but you certainly wouldn’t have your own jersey or teammates to call your own.
Until now, that is.
Minnesota Special Hockey was first developed in 2006 in the Twin Cities, and is now looking to ice a team based in International Falls, with players from both sides of the border invited to join in.
Skaters as young as four and as old as 42 have participated in the program elsewhere, and interest has been steady—albeit not overwhelming—so far here in Borderland.
An average of seven players took in the orientation camp held all last week at Bronco Arena.
“I am very happy with the turnout,” camp organizer Sherry Veillieux enthused. “Everyone has told me how wonderful of a time they are having, even the parents.
“I hope to keep the players we have and gain some more,” Veillieux added. “It is just a wonderful outlet and let’s the players know that they are not alone and can do the things they want to do.”
“In the Cities the first time they ran it they had three or four [players], so for a first go in a small town, I think they are quite impressed with the turnout and I think it’s amazing,” said Jody Bonner-Vickers, who’s son Sam is enrolled.
Bonner-Vickers, of Fort Frances, said the five days of hockey made an immediate impact on her five-year-old son who is diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome.
“My boy loves to play boot hockey and things like that, so just to get him on the ice has been a great opportunity,” Bonner-Vickers stressed.
A lot of them have been going to their siblings’ games for a long time, so it’s extra special to do it first-hand themselves.
Bonner-Vickers gave special thanks to the young volunteers who helped make the camp a success.
“The two boys [Logan Veillieux and Alex McBride] who were helping just graduated Grade 8, and they were there every morning suited up before we even get there,” Bonner-Vickers stressed.
“They just spent two weeks at hockey camp of their own, so for them to get up early in the morning to volunteer shows to me a lot of maturity and dedication.”
Julie Boyle, now an adult, grew up watching her brothers play sports for the various Bronco sports programs.
“My brothers played football and hockey and I’d watch them, but it’s good to be on the ice myself,” Boyle enthused.
Noah Paleczny, 4, is limited by in utero growth retardation, cerebral palsy, global delay, and moderate autism, but skated around the ice and took shots on goal with the help of his adopted mother, Beth.
“My daughter Lilly plays hockey so we are at the rink all time,” Beth said. “I wasn’t sure how he’d handle having all that equipment on, but he’s taking instruction and involved, which is great.”
Slow to start, the program in the Twin Cities has grown to include three teams, and Veillieux’s son, Remington, went down to play a game a year ago for the “Eagles of the East” based out of southeast St. Paul.
“It’s just fun,” Remington, 11, enthused of the opportunity to play the sport. “I like shooting and scoring the best.”
A team based out of Rogers, Mn. is organizing to get started for this coming season along with the Falls-based squad, bringing the number of teams up to five.
Minnesota Special Hockey exists for the enrichment of the athlete with a developmental disability. In addition to physical hockey skills, the program emphasizes the development of desirable individual characteristics such as dependability, self-reliance, concentration, willingness to share and personal accountability. Visit their website at www.mnspecialhockey.org
For more information on the locally-based program, contact Veillieux at 1-218-283-3721 or via e-mail at nocnurse72@hotmail.com
