March 23, 2009
By Dave Whalen
Special to USAHockey.com
Buffalo, NY - 1,500 athletes on 42 teams invaded the Amherst (NY) Pepsi Center as the 5th Annual Disabled Hockey Festival came to the Buffalo area March 20-22. Competing were 20 teams in Sled hockey and 20 teams in Special Hockey, the two biggest disciplines at the tournament. They are divisions of USA Hockey, and are rapidly growing, with Special Hockey the fastest growing discipline in the organization.
For many teams, they were competing for the first time outside their own programs. Competition against another opponent is imperative to both the development and morale of a team. The Tampa Bay Lightning went three years before playing their first opponent, the newest organization in Florida, the Space Coast Hurricanes from Rocklidge near Cape Canaveral. The Festival is their first tournament.
“We’ll make the scrimmages as competitive as we can but we need to find other teams.” Lightning Coach Dave Cole said. “Either making more tournaments or hosting one of our own. The players get so much better, they face competition, it’s good for the learning curve, it gets people energized.”
Cole has been involved in hockey for several years, but saw the importance and interest in Sled hockey.
“I don’t think the differences are that much between sled hockey and able-bodied hockey,” Cole said. “I’ve been coaching 20 years at all levels, from beginner to people playing in the NHL. The same principles exist in both sports; can you pass a puck, can you read a play, can you support a puck. In this game there is a lot of core strength. This is definitely a teaching opportunity all the time, more so than most and it’s a patience thing.”
Having talent goes a long way to the development of a program, using the skills of those players to help with the new players. Things like sled adjustment so that it set up to best meet the player’s body and style of propulsion are all part of the learning curve.
“There’s some tactical things, no question, and we’ve been lucky,” Cole emphasized. “We’ve got some very good players in our area. One guy that just barely missed the Olympic team and one guy who has an Olympic tryout, Travis Lee has really helped us get started. We lean on them, they’re in the sleds. I have no issue going to the people with expertise.”
A big part of starting any program is the funding. Several teams in both divisions have received generous support from the local professional clubs. The Buffalo Sabres are a major donor for both this event and the local team. The Tampa Bay Lightning is the main sponsors for Cole’s team while the Columbus Blue Jackets are major supporters for the Special Hockey club.
Tom Reinarts is the coach and architect of Florida’s Space Coast team. His son started playing with the Lightning program but the two hour drive to Tampa got Reinarts thinking of starting up a local team, understanding the challenges and commitment that go with that.
“One is work with the rink owner if you have a local rink,” Reinarts said. “You have to get them involved; sometimes they’ll cut you a deal. You have to find volunteers to help you out. Most of the programs I’ve seen have a number of people who love hockey so much they want to be around it, it doesn’t matter what form.”
Reinarts also noted the significance of funding but was fortunate to connect to a program called ‘Tim’s kids’, a program started by Tim Shula, a local man who had terminal cancer and wanted to see hockey programs developed for people who don’t normally get involved in the sport. He notes that once they saw sled hockey “they bought into it 100 percent.”
Reinarts also credits USA Hockey’s infrastructure and its sound base of support with allowing start up to go smoothly. The network is designed to encourage connections with other programs, their coaches, and the USA Hockey representatives so as to get questions answered, ideas shared, and best practices communicated.
Another team playing competitively for the first time, and undoubtedly the winner for the long distance award, is the Alaska Avalanche Sled hockey team. There are no other teams in the state.
Tom East has played for six years, and was both anxious and excited to get to the Festival and face another opponent.
“This is huge for us,” said East. “To get a chance to play these other teams, and learn, just a great experience.”
Jeff Dick became the coach three years ago and East credits him with building it up to its current state.
“Over time it’s really grown to its current point,” said Dick. ‘When I first came around I think we had three people playing consistently. We moved the team from Anchorage to Wasilla and then players like Gerry (Milbrett) appeared and people started popping up. Every practice we have at least five players, we’ve had as many as 11 or 12 on the ice. The evolution took a year or two.”
One of the major benefits of attending the Festival is exposure to other teams, seeing some of their techniques, plays, and certain styles. There are also coaching meetings scheduled throughout the weekend, and part of the agenda is to share ways to help develop players.
“Coming here will make us better as a team,” Milbrett said. “We’re learning a lot from these guys. There is hockey in Alaska, with us being so far away and such a small number of people in our state. We want to come here, we can compete, we want to compete.”
“In Alaska we play each other,” Coach Dick added. “With the exception of two players on our team, all we’ve done is play amongst ourselves. Being able to play as a team with one vision, one focus, one goal has made all the difference in the world. We’ve learned so much watching other teams, talking to them after games. From my position this is priceless. It’s not only worth the money it took to get here, it goes way beyond dollars.”
Mike Hickey is the President of the American Special Hockey Association and runs the Washington, DC program. Hickey’s goal is to have 100 teams in the United States by next year. Currently there are approximately 75.
Hickey approached a group from Baltimore with the hopes of getting a team in that area, which would also mean more competition in the Capitol region. Jim and Teresa Zinkhan were more than happy to oblige. The Zinkhans do not have a child with special needs, nor does anyone on their Board, but they recognized the importance of the program.
“It’s going very well,” said Bryce Fry, an 11 year-old player on the Baltimore Saints. “This is the first team I’ve ever been on, and probably the only team I’m going to be on. I like it so much I think I’m going to do it next year. Hockey is a phenomenal sport.”
Bryce would not only like to play, but also serve as a mentor, helping teammates who might need more assistance on the ice.
Billy Zinkhan, Jim’s brother, coaches the Saints. He had never worked with or been exposed to children with special needs and had some initial apprehensions.
“I was very scared,” Billy said. “I didn’t know how it was going to be. I did not know how they would react to us. They actually taught us. They show you what they need. They help you along. It’s been an enjoyment.”
To start the program takes a lot of support from all avenues of the community. Matters like ice time, equipment, funding, and volunteers all come to play in order to succeed.
“It took a lot of dedicated volunteers,” Jim added. “A large support number of mentors from the local high school and hockey programs, and a great deal of cash from generous donations.”
So what advice does Teresa have for individuals interested in starting up a program?
“I would tell them gather up hockey fans, people from organized sports that want to help children. Surround yourself with really wonderful people. Jim and I never started a program. Get yourself a strong board. The support we’ve had from other people has been unbelievable. Talk to other Special Hockey programs. We will all help each other, that’s what this is all about. It’s the most rewarding work we’ve ever done.”
USA Hockey can advise and direct individuals interested in starting up programs in Sled or Special hockey. For more information, contact Disabled Hockey Section Chairperson JJ O'Connor at dublj95@aol.com. |