Ready for NHL Playoffs? Silent Auction Now Has Prime Capitals Tickets

We just learned today that Washington Capitals president Dick Patrick has generously offered THREE pairs of tickets to the team's first playoff game, which will be April 15.  These seats are in Section 112, Rows R and S, near the blueline.  These are among the best seats at Verizon Center. The bidding for these and other items will open at noon on Friday and end promptly at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

You do NOT need to be present on Saturday to win, but you do need to enter your bid in person at the Gardens Ice House.  The three pairs of tickets will be separate auction items -- so three people can win one pair.  Let the bidding begin.

Thanks to Mr. Patrick for his tremendous support of disabled hockey and the festival.

Opening Day -- with the Stanley Cup

The Gardens Ice House is all set up and ready to welcome nearly 50 teams from acros the country for the 6th Annual USA Hockey Disabled Festival. At noon, the Stanley Cup arrived. A group of guys playing pickup at the rink were pleasantly surprised to see Stanley as they left the ice. If you're in the area, today is the day to see the Cup -- it will also be here tomorrow, but we'll be taking team photos. I expect it will exciting but also a little chaotic.

Festival committee members Justin Murch, Mark Miller, and Mike Hickey.

Festival program.

Handicapped parking has been significantly expanded for the festival, and the signs even have the festival logo.

Johnstown Sitting Bulls Pack Sleds for Hockey Festival

Christina Dunmyer of the Daily American profiles the Johnstown Sitting Bulls, a novice youth team (first grade to 18 years old) whose first game at the festival will be against their fellow Pennsylvanians the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins. Head coach Brian Buchkovich said, "Many of these kids wear braces on their legs because of Spinabifida or other aliments, but they can play other sports. For some, they are wheelchair-bound and this is the only sport their doctors will let them play. For USA Hockey to do something like this for the kids is tremendous."

Read "Sitting Bulls Head to Hockey Festival."

Sled Hockey GM on Growth of Disabled Hockey Festival

J.J. O'Connor, the general manager of the gold-medal-winning USA sled hockey team, says he's looking forward to the 2010 USA Hockey Disabled Festival, the largest ever.  "It happens all the time," O'Connor told USA Hockey. "Someone visits our Disabled Festival and is inspired to go out and join their local organization's team. And we're seeing higher levels of competition each year because of it....Our goal every year is to create an atmosphere that leaves a happiness with everyone in the facility. Plus, the more people that attend to watch and cheer on the athletes, the better they feel."  Read O'Connor's interview with USA Hockey.

Player Profile: Max Maksimyadis, New York Raptors

Have you ever seen a goalie win a game without using a stick?  If not, you've never seen Max Maksimyadis play.  Max plays for the New York Raptors and can't hold a stick or put a blocker on his right hand.  So he tapes the blocker to his right arm and plays fine -- or, more accurately, well enough to be one of the best goalies in the American Special Hockey Association.  In 2008, Max was named the USA Disabled Hockey Athlete of the Year.  Read "Maksimyadis Stands Tall On and Off the Ice."

"If You Have Plans This Weekend, Cancel Them for USA Hockey Disabled Festival"

Thanks to Kathleen at the J.B. Sports Chat blog for her post encouraging people to attend the festival.

"If you don't have plans this weekend, head out to Laurel, Md., with me," she writes. "If you do have plans this weekend, cancel them and head out to Laurel, Md., this weekend for the 6th Annual Hockey Disabled Festival at the Gardens Ice House.

"The Hockey Disabled Festival will feature hockey games like you have never seen before. There will be games all weekend long in four categories: Special hockey, sled hockey, standing amputees, and deaf/hearing impaired. You can also meet the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team and check out their gold medals (the Vancouver medals were way cooler than all previous medals, by the way). And the Stanley Cup will be making an appearance at the festival."

Opening Day: Thursday's Lineup

Tomorrow is opening day of the Hockey Festival.  As we await the arrival of other teams, many of the Washington area's teams will be in action Thursday evening.
5:30 p.m. -- Philadelphia Fearless Flyers vs. Montgomery Cheetahs
6:25 p.m. -- Deaf/Hard of Hearing Practice
6:30 p.m. -- Nova Cool Cats vs Washington Ice Dogs
7:40 p.m. -- Baltimore Saints #1 vs. Nova Cool Cats
8:00 p.m. -- East Coast Jumbos vs. Washington Ice Dogs A
8:40 p.m. -- Baltimore Saints #2 vs. Montgomery Cheetahs

Michigan FAR Flyers Pack for Two Tournaments

The Michigan FAR Flyers are ready for the USA Hockey Disabled Festival and the Special Hockey International Tournament after a double-header against the Brampton Battalion.  (Scouting report for the teams that will face the FAR Flyers: 20-year-old Justin May, says, "I'm usually the guy that plays rough and smashes them into the boards.")  Read "Participation the Victory Here" from the Daily Herald.

The Detroit News recently reported on the rise of special hockey in Michigan, including the FAR Flyers.  Read "Special Hockey is Breaking Out Across the State."

Player Profile: Joe Bowser, USA National Amputee Team

Six years ago, on April 12, retired Army reservist Joseph L. Bowser lost part of his leg after a rocket attack when he was serving in Balad, Iraq.  When I Joe for USA Hockey magazine (read "The Warriors Way"), he told me, “I’m probably the only person you’ll ever meet who opted to have their leg amputated so they could play hockey."

The military will be well represented at the festival.  Joe will play for the USA Standing Amputee Team.  The USA Warriors will also be at the tournament, and on Saturday, sled hockey teams composed of veterans will play against each other.

Silent Auction Items

The hockey festival's silent auction will benefit the disabled programs of the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association.  Thanks to the organizations that have donated these and other great items.

• Nicklas Backstrom autographed jersey (donated by the NHL)
• Jordan Staal autographed jersey (donated by the Pittsburgh Penguins)
• Patrice Bergeron autographed jersey (donated by the Boston Bruins)
• Andrew Ladd autographed puck and photo (donated by the Chicago Blackhawks)
• Chris Drury autographed game used stick (donated by Chris Drury)
• Minnesota Wild autographed jersey / 2009-2010 team (donated by the NHL)
• Arron Asham autographed hat (donated by the NHL)
• Brendan Morrison and Mathieu Perreault autographed hat (donated by the NHL)
• Tuomo Ruutu autographed puck (donated by the NHL)
• Ryan Malone autographed puck (donated by the NHL)

Festival attendees can bid from noon on Friday to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.  Winners will be posted at 4:00 p.m.  (Sorry, we have not set up the ability to bid online.)  The sale of custom-made wristbands for $2.00 and a raffle will also benefit disabled programs in the area.

"They're done being spectators. They're hockey players."

From Minnesota, a video that explains what disabled hockey is all about.

"In this state, you should be on the ice, regardless of your ability," says Toni Boelter, the disabled hockey representative for Minnesota Hockey.  "You know what's really neat?  Most of these kids have a brother or a cousin or a sister or dad who plays hockey.  And their entire lives they've been sitting on the bench and  cheering them on. They've never actually been the kid who can be on the ice.

"So for these kids to get on the ice and look up and see their friends and family cheering them on and holding up signs.  They finally get to feel that sense of pride and accomplishment that says, 'I can do this too.  I'm part of a team.'  They're all done being spectators, now they're participants.  They're hockey players."

USA's 2010 Gold Medalists

At the recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the USA men's and women's teams played well but lost to Canada. But the Paralympics were another story -- one that should have received more TV and media coverage than it did.

The USA sled hockey team was a favorite to medal in the Paralympics, but even they could not have predicted their success. Not only did they go undefeated against the world's top teams, but goalie Steve Cash did not even allow a goal, and USA outscored its opponents 19-0.

Because many of the gold medalists play for sled hockey teams participating in the USA Hockey Disabled Festival, we are thrilled to welcome many of them. On Saturday afternoon at 5:00, there will be a meet-and-greet with members of Team USA, as well as the USA Standing Amputee team and the USA Warriors. In this VISA profile, meet one of the sled hockey champions, Alexi Salamone.

USA Warriors: Heroes on Ice

In addition to the USA Hockey Disabled areas of special hockey, sled hockey, standing amputee, and deaf and hearing-impaired, the USA Hockey Disabled Festival is honored to also host the USA Warriors, a team of soldiers who have been wounded in action. Read about the USA Warriors in this article from USA Hockey magazine, "The Warriors Way."

On Saturday at 3:00 p.m., the USA Warriors will face off against the Maryland Law, a team of federal, state, and military law enforcement officers. Right before that game, at 1:40 p.m., a USA Warriors sled hockey team (with players from different states) will take on the San Antonio Rampage, another military sled hockey team. Read about the San Antonio team in another article from USA Hockey, "Stars, Stripes, and Sleds."


Saturday will end with a matchup between the USA National Standing Amputee Team against Team Canada, at 7:00 p.m.

Ace of Cakes Supports Disabled Hockey!

You may know Duff Goldman from the "Ace of Cakes" show on the Food Network. What you may not know is that he's a big hockey fan and a former player for the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). Duff has graciously agreed to create a cake for the USA Hockey Disabled Festival, and we're hopeful it will be featured on "Ace of Cakes" in the future. The cake will be unveiled during opening ceremonies April 9 at 8:00 p.m., and it will be consumed immediately after that!

Watch this funny commercial Duff made for a Hockey Fights Cancer event.

A Special Guest Named Stanley

In 2007, I was fortunate enough to "meet" the Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame.  As excited as I was, I can only imagine how special it will be when the players at the disabled hockey festival get to see the Cup in person (and maybe even get their picture taken with it).  Check back for photos of the Cup when it arrives in Laurel!

"Even More Hockey Heading to Washington, D.C."

Monica McAlister, a great supporter of disabled hockey programs, also is a writer with thehockeywriters.com.  Read her article about the festival, "Even More Hockey Heading to Washington, D.C."  She's also tweeting like crazy about the festival.  (You can too, by following @specialhockey and hashtag #hockeyfest on Twitter.)  Thanks, Monica!

6th Annual USA Hockey Disabled Festival

The 6th Annual USA Hockey Disabled Festival will be held April 8-11, 2010, at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Md. The tournament will bring together players, coaches, families, and volunteers from across the country to celebrate the inclusive nature of this sport. Teams will compete in the areas of special hockey, sled hockey, standing amputee, and deaf and hearing-impaired. Also participating will be the USA Warriors, a team made up of soldiers who have been wounded in action.

Read the media advisory and schedule.

During the festival, we will post updates on Facebook and Twitter. On Facebook, visit the American Special Hockey Association's page at http://facebook.com/specialhockey. On Twitter, follow @specialhockey and hashtag #hockeyfest.

List of Participating Teams

Special Hockey Teams

Baltimore Saints (Maryland)
Boston Bear Cubs (Massachusetts)

Bucks County Admirals (Pennsylvania)

Carolina CAT 5 Canes (North Carolina)

Chicago Tomahawks (Illinois)

Connecticut Chasers (Connecticut)

CCYHA Blue Jackets (Ohio)

East Coast Jumbos (Massachusetts)
Gateway Locomotives (Missouri)

Long Island Blues (New York)

Michigan FAR Flyers (Michigan)

Minnesota Special Hockey (Minnesota)

Montgomery Cheetahs (Maryland)

New Jersey Daredevils (New Jersey)

New York Raptors (New York)

NOVA Cool Cats (Virginia)

Philadelphia Fearless Flyers (Pennsylvania)

Southern Connecticut Storm (Connecticut)

Steel City Icebergs (Pennsylvania)
Washington Ice Dogs (Washington, D.C.)
 

Sled Hockey Teams – Adult

Buffalo Sabres (New York)

Chicago RIC Blackhawks (Illinois)

Michigan Sled Dogs (Michigan)

PA Center-Pedes (Pennsylvania)

Mid American (Pennsylvania)

Minnesota (Minnesota)

San Antonio Rampage (military --Texas)

Tampa Bay Lightning (Florida)

UNH Northeast Passage Wildcats (New Hampshire)

Utah NAC Golden Eagles (Utah)

USA Warriors (military -- National)

Sled Hockey Teams – Youth

Bennett Blazers (Maryland)

Buffalo Sabres (New York)

Capital District Sled Warriors (New York)

Colorado Little Avs (Colorado)

DC Sled Sharks (Washington, D.C.)

Delaware Sled Snipers (Delaware)

Chicago Hornets (Illinois)
Grand Rapids Sled Wings Jr. Sled (Michigan)

Johnstown Sitting Bulls (Pennsylvania)

Ohio Blades (Ohio)

Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins (Pennsylvania)

Space Coast Hurricanes (Florida)

Virtua Wings of Steel (New Jersey)

Others

USA Warriors (military)

USA Standing National Amputee Team

AHIHA Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Team

Intro to Special Hockey

From one of the newer special hockey programs, in Brick, N.J., this slideshow is a great overview of what makes special hockey so special.  Open the link and click the play button.  You can also read about this program on the American Special Hockey Association site.

Looking Back at 2009 Hockey Festival

The 5th Annual USA Hockey Disabled Festival was held in Buffalo, N.Y.  The event drew 1,500 athletes representing 42 teams from more than 40 U.S. cities.  Here's a report from USA Hockey.

JJ O’Connor,  chair of USA Hockey’s disabled section, said, “It goes by so quickly and you have so much while you’re here. It’s almost a blur, it’s sad to see it end. It’s so enjoyable to watch these kids play and compete and have fun and learn to play together. To meet other players on other teams who are just like they are....I think it was a huge success. There is something for everyone here. We have all different walks of life. We have people who are in wheelchairs. We have people who are missing limbs; we have people who can’t hear. I think everybody could walk away with a smile on their face.”

That event produced this photo that has come to represent the spirit of disabled hockey.  In it,  a player from the Tomahawks takes a break from the game to pick up a stick for a much younger player from the Baltimore Saints.