A shinny style hockey for youth with special needs with the main focus on fun is starting up at the Jack Burger Sports Complex in Port Hope every Sunday.
The idea came from Port Hope Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Jim McCormack after meeting with Port Hope resident Sarah Orr.
Last year, Orr would drive her 13-year-old son Owen to Peterborough for the nearest hockey for special needs children.
Owen is confined to a wheelchair and Orr said by the time he got to Peterborough, he was worn out from the drive.
“Due to the illness progressing and fatigue, he could no longer travel and play. It was just to hard for him.”
Peterborough was the closest the team would play, other games or practises would take nearly up to two hours.
“Those days were to hard for us. Just because of the length of travel and actual play.”
In a conversation with her friend Selena Forsyth, Orr said that she might have to cancel hockey.
Orr said Forsyth was determined to figure something out – and she did.
Both women agreed there is a need for special needs recreation in Port Hope.
Forsyth and Orr contacted Port Hope Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Jim McCormack and Five Counties Children’s Centre. There was a meeting between Orr, McCormack, Julia Snoek from JBSC and Colleen Ristok who is the recreational therapist from Five Counties Children’s Centre.
“Jim actually came up with the idea of doing a more laid back, drop in style of shinny as opposed to an actual organized team.”
Orr was thrilled with the idea.
“That’s all that I was hoping for so people could come when they feel up to it, but don’t feel like they are letting people down if they can’t make it.”
“Jack Burger is the forefront of this special needs hockey in our community,” said a beaming Orr.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and so grateful to Jim McCormack, Five Counties, the Port Hope Accessibility Advisory Committee and Selena who have all come together to make this happen.”
Orr said the idea for the logo came from when she was talking to her son.
“He wanted to be called the Toronto Maple Leafs, but I explained that we weren’t allowed to be called that.”
So Orr, tried to incorporate a leaf into the logo and Owen was happy when he saw it for the first time.
Snoek was amazing recreating it and transferring it into a pdf format.
“The word hope holds special meaning to, not only our family, but I believe the special needs community as a whole. So I wanted to emphasize that particular word in the logo somehow.”
The first game takes place this coming Sunday, October 14 starting at 4 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. and the cost is $3 per participant. Volunteers helping out are free.
Participants must be wearing a CSA approved helmet and full face mask. For those in wheelchairs, a caregiver must be on the ice wearing skates and a helmet with special maintenance considerations required for wheelchairs.
Volunteers are needed to assist with participants.
For more information on helping out and a complete listing of dates called the Jack Burger Sports Centre at 905-885-2474.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
