Hockey Accessible to all at KSU Ice Area
52 participate in MidAm Sled Camp
Amazing. Impressive. Inspiring.
Those three words are just the beginning when describing the MidAM Sled Hockey Development Camp held at the Kent State University Ice Arena.
MidAm is the USA Hockey District in which Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia belong, while sled hockey is an adaptation of ice hockey designed for players who have a physical disability.
Renee Loftspring is an incredibly dedicated volunteer who serves the MidAM District as the representative to the Disabled Section and served as the Development Camp Director.
“We’re all volunteers. Everybody is doing it because it brings them joy and opens doors and windows for everybody else who doesn’t have the opportunities able-bodied people do.”
“My best example is that if my son wants to go skating, he rent skates, goes to the rink and skates. If someone has a physical disability, they can’t do that. There needs to be another opportunity. The sleds range from $600-$800 dollars and are only made in basically two places in the United States. If you need a helmet or stick you are looking at $1000 to go to an open skate.”
USA Sled Hockey
Ohio Sled Hockey
While most of the 52 camp participants were from the MidAM District, the camp was open to any players interested in attending, regardless of their home district.
Participants from outside of the local district included players from San Diego, Nashville, Austin, Texas; Louisville, Kentucky and several from New Jersey.
Players registered according to ability and experienced both on and off ice training. Participants ranged in age from six years old to older adults.
“The camp is a lot of skills and drills, off-ice training, ‘chalk talk’, group activities and strength and conditioning,” explained Loftspring.
Among the coaching staff was Mike Blabac, a USA Hockey gold medal Paralympian goaltender in the 2010 Paralympics.
Chuck Gridley, the New York District Coach-in-Chief and liaison to the Disabled Section, served as the camp’s head coach.
“His (Gridley’s) philosophy is you can’t have fun and you can’t play hockey if you don’t know how to play. He starts with foundation skills and builds those skills. Even though someone is pretty good, he is going to make them better. He tries to get them one level better,” offered Loftspring.
While not focusing on hockey, the players were offered the experience of dorm living and overall college life at Kent State University which, according to Loftspring was, “amazing.”
This was the first time the camp was held at Kent State.
“I am so spoiled. The facility (Kent State Ice Arena) is perfect and totally accessible. Every worker here has gone above and beyond.”
Throughout the year, Loftspring’s role is to educate and share information regarding adaptive hockey throughout the district and help start programs at the local level.
Loftspring explained that there is adaptive ice hockey for anyone with most any disability stating, “There is sled hockey for youth and adults with physical disability, special hockey for youth and adults with special needs, warrior hockey for current and retired veterans with a disability that occurred during their service and the newest is blind hockey for anyone with a visual impairment or blindness. Typically, they have 10 percent vision or less.”
Clearly, due to the efforts of players and volunteers, the National Hockey League outreach mantra “Hockey is for Everyone” was on display at the camp.
For additional information about disabled hockey contact Loftspring at midamdisabledhockey@gmail.com.
--- Jim Smith for Ohio Hockey Digest
Follow Jim Smith on twitter @BlueLineNotes
