Adam's Blind Hockey Journy

Hi, my name is Adam. I'm visually impaired, and I play hockey. I'm hoping to raise money to support my blind hockey season. With the ultimate goal of making the US national blind hockey team.

 

Hockey has always been a major part of my life. I always wanted to play, but my sight limited what I could and couldn't do. But a few years ago I discovered blind hockey and dove head first into the game. Hockey taught me many life lessons that I still use on a daily basis. It taught me how to strive for my goals, taught me to get up no matter how many times I fell down. It taught me how to work with others to accomplish larger goals. It's an amazing sport, the best in the world, and I'm happy that I now have the chance to play at a highly competitive level.

 

But hockey is not a cheap sport. The blind hockey communities even smaller than you'd expect. Travel is the largest expense, because we have players from all over the country. We are constantly meeting in different states and cities for our tournaments. I hope to keep attending as many tournaments as I can, but finances are always an issue. Between plane tickets and hotel costs, it never gets any easier. For the most part, I've been doing my best to foot the bill myself. But I'm not sure I can do it alone anymore. Last year it was suggested that I start a fundraiser, so I did. And with the help of friends, and the communities that I reached through them, I was able to raise nearly $4,000. That helped so much in making my dream possible.

 

This year I received another invitation to the Team USA training camp in Utica New York. It is a great honor to be invited by USA hockey to try to make the team and represent my country. As it stands now though, this trip will cost me nearly $2,000 on its own. It's the largest expense for a hockey weekend of the year for me.

 

Travel isn't the only expense. Ice time and pucks are also expensive. Currently I pay around $250 for 5 bucks that last about 4 months. If I'm lucky.  You see, the blind hockey puck is different compared to a normal hockey puck. It's made of 22 gauge steel, around 5 times the size of an ordinary hockey puck, and is filled with steel ball bearings that allow those of us with limited to no vision the ability to play the puck.

 

I'm very honored to be a part of the community. I've met so many great friends along the way in blind hockey. Joining them in putting on the Team USA Jersey would mean the world to me.