Special needs hockey is expanding to North Simcoe this fall and organizers are making a call-out for those in the area interested in joining.
The newly added Orillia Eagles Special Needs Hockey Club is part of Special Hockey International (SHI).
Running a team isn't new to the Eagles' president and founder, Edward Hunter, who helmed another special needs team - the Innisfil Snowdogs - for 15 years.
"[I] found out there was a place for kids and adults of all ages, boys or girls, to play special needs hockey as long as you had an intellectual disability, be it autism, down syndrome, any kind of a disability that would separate you from mainstream hockey," Hunter told Barrie 360.
"When I heard word of that, I was excited because my son's on the spectrum ... but it's time to bring a club north ... there really isn't any club between Barrie and North Bay for Special Hockey International."
Hunter says players of all abilities, ages, and genders are welcome to join the coed team in North Simcoe.
"We have approximately ten or 11 [people] that have shown interest ... we are looking for more players," said Hunter. "We're going to have mentors on the ice, coaches on the ice, so if they need help skating, that's not an issue. We'll have skater aides as well."
The team's home ice for practices and games will be in Ramara at the Rama Mask Arena and is set to start in October. Ice time will be on Saturdays with the first hour being the junior division and the second hour for the intermediate division. A year-end tournament will be held in February.
"It's a place to go and have fun," said Hunter. "We're going to be playing games with other cities and towns, wearing uniforms, the jerseys, and socks [like] they see on TV. Now it's their time to have fun."
Barrie's News Delivered To Your Inbox
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Hunter says the club isn't connected to a minor hockey association, so fundraising and donations are needed for the aforementioned jerseys, socks, and ice time.
"We'll be independently running," Hunter said. "We are looking for donations and sponsorships."
Hunter honed in on the importance of having leagues like this.
"It's a life skill, it's life-changing, and I mean that in its truest form," said Hunter.
"They do play hockey for sure but it's so much more. It's inclusive, it's fun. You see these players who maybe never even thought they could play like their brothers or sisters or cousins and now they're playing and they're scoring the goal, or better yet, they're helping someone else score that goal and that is the talk of the week for them at school or when friends come over. They can say, 'Look what I did.'
"It really does bring tears to your eyes to watch it. I've seen that firsthand with parents and coaches when you see that person who's striving so hard to get down the ice and finally achieve [the] goal."
Registration starts later in August or early September.
If you are interested or have any questions, Hunter says to contact him at edkhunter@yahoo.com or 705-238-9402.
