At the Ice House in Wake Forest, a children's hockey team was zipping across the rink -- on folding chairs.
Keagan Kelly kept slipping off his seat and doggedly pulling himself up. Lauren Atwell kicked and screamed with glee -- though neither her skates nor her stick touched the ice.
And Adam Soderberg ripped a slapshot past the goalie.
"Mom-eee! I scored a goal!"
Adam, who has autism, has never been able to play team sports before, said his mother, Tracy Soderberg.
But on the Cat5 Canes special hockey team, players are developmentally delayed, visually impaired, struggling with muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. Some kids skate well; others sit on standard folding chairs pushed by volunteer mentors. Some need help following the puck; others need aid swinging the stick.
The team, the first of its kind in the state, is part of the fast-growing American Special Hockey Association, which claims 60 teams in 20 states.
It is supported by the Carolina Hurricanes. But even Paul Strand, youth and amateur hockey coordinator for the Canes, has been surprised at how quickly the team has grown -- and how solid its volunteer base has been.
"I was skeptical at first," said Strand. "A lot of people have big ideas but not everyone comes through with the commitment. Getting people to volunteer is usually like pulling teeth."
Posted by Judy at July 25, 2009 12:07 PMWhat a fabulous story! Very touching.
You're doing great, btw! Already got 1/4 of your posts behind you! Yay! :-D
Posted by: JL at July 25, 2009 12:25 PM