Paul Elliott is all smiles as he steps off the ice at Pete Palangio Arena in North Bay. Paul is a member of the North Bay North Stars, a team that helps those with intellectual disabilities build skills to use both on and off the ice.
NORTH BAY — Paul Elliott steps off the ice smiling.
As are the rest of his teammates on the North Bay North Stars.
The team is allowing the players, including the 17-year-old South River teen, a chance to brush on up their skating and hockey skills, and enjoy the camaraderie of being on a team.
But without the North Stars, part of Special Hockey International (SHI), many of these players would never have these positive and spirit-building experiences.
SHI offers hockey opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities. Through skill building exercises, scrimmages, exhibition games and tournaments, players learn skating, stick handling, passing, shooting and saving skills, but, more importantly, team work, self-confidence and self-esteem.
This is the inaugural year for the North Stars, and on Sunday afternoons, they can be found practicing in North Bay. The team includes players from age nine to 62. Some haven’t ever played hockey before, others have.
Sharon Fung, one of the co-managers of the North Stars, says her 11-year-old son’s experiences participating in regular hockey led her to form the North Stars.
“The idea began in July as I watched my son struggle to participate in a regular hockey program with kids his age,” she explained. “He loves hockey but was unable to develop at the same rate in skill and maturity as his peers.”
Fung started doing some research on the web and came across the SHI website.
After networking with some SHI teams based out of southern Ontario, Fung approached the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association (WFMHA), who were very receptive to embracing the North Stars under their umbrella, she said. “One meeting and that’s all we needed.”
The North Stars launched in October. Already, they have 21 members, and a waiting list of four.
The team generally has practices on Sundays in North Bay. Barry Berger and Jared Hunt, two special needs teachers, coach the North Stars, along with several other assistants. Play is non-contact and non-competitive, and there are very few rules, other than safety rules modeled from WFMHA guidelines.
Players pay a nominal registration fee, but much of the cost was paid through fundraising. Some players, including Paul, had equipment donated.
Paul’s family said everything from his helmet to his skates was covered.
The team also had jerseys donated and are going to get team jackets.
The players’ pride in their team is great, said co-manager David Washington. “It’s really cool to see them outside the rink. They’ll wear their jerseys to the mall.”
The coaching and team work helps players with their social and listening skills, Washington explained, and organizers hear positive feedback about it from teachers and social workers.
The team also helps, in a way, to open up trust and communication lines between the community and those with intellectual disabilities, Washington said.
The North Stars have a variety of exhibition games on this year’s schedule, including games with local police officers and firefighters.
On Thursday, the team is scheduled to hit the ice at Memorial Gardens with Nipissing-Temiskaming MP Anthony Rota and former Montreal Canadiens goalie and Liberal Ken Dryden.
On Feb. 10, the North Stars will play with the Almaguin Gazelles girls’ hockey team at Pete Palangio Arena in North Bay.
But a big highlight of the North Stars’ season will come in April, when the teams travels to North York for the SHI annual tournament.
The four-day road trip will see the North Stars playing SHI teams from the GTA, and as far away as Colorado and Oregon.
Every player will come away from the tournament as a winner, Washington said, and a banquet and dance for all will be held to close off the year’s festivities.
Some of the costs associated with traveling to the tournament have also been covered by fundraising and donations.
The team looks forward to being the only entry from north of the GTA at the tournament.
Paul’s family says that, though he had been interested in hockey, without the North Stars there would be no chance of him pursuing it.
They report already seeing improvements in his balance and skating, but above all, he’s telling them that he really enjoys his experience on the team, and they say that’s a great thing.
Editorial
