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News Headline: Alaska Job Opportunity...… |
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featured hockeymomWelcome, Mia! Mia's son has played hockey for eight years. Give that hockeymom a wave on your way to the arena! How has hockey affected your son and your family? My son was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. He was 7 when we attended a spina bifida clinic in Toronto. It was there that a very athletic young man in a wheelchair asked my son if he liked hockey. He eyes lit up and we were introduced to sledge hockey. We moved back to Edmonton (my son was born here) in 2004 and sought out the Paralympic Sports Association who offered sledge hockey. Within a couple of years, our coach was unable to continue in that role and no one was coming forward. I had grown up watching hockey as my brothers played. In University I went to the Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warrior games. I had never got to play hockey because at that time “girls didn’t play hockey”. I knew that my son loved hockey too much to miss out, so I decided to take on the coaching role. The reward of coaching these amazing athletes is not just seen in their progression in the sport, but to know their personal stories and understand that inspite of their physical or medical challenges, they have the opportunity to exercise and be part of sport just like the stand-up players.
My husband took on the role of coach for CADS (Canadian Association of Disabled Skiing) and has begun the grassroots race program – also so our son could compete.
Our family spends most of the year driving. It is one hour, one way for my son and I to get to the rink and one hour, one way for my husband to get to the ski hill. We attend meetings and training to make sure we are up to date with our certification, to be sure we are providing the best teaching for all these athletes. Our two daughters compete in downhill racing also, so we have to carefully plan out our schedules. We have noticed a tremendous hit to our wallets with gas prices etc., buy we are committed to seeing these programs grow and flourish, because sport – especially hockey – needs to be available to everyone who wants to play!
What have you learned about people and your community through hockey.
Sledge hockey is relatively new in western Canada. However, as we reach out to the community and make them more aware of this sport, they embrace us with open arms. We recruit able-bodied teams to play us – they get an opportunity to try a sledge and we get some actual game situation practices. It is because of the generousity of some businesses that we have been able to attain sponsors so our players could experience a tournament for the first time in their life. With very limited numbers out west to date, it is amazing to take our athletes our east (London, Ontario) to a sledge hockey tournament. You can’t imagine the looks on our players faces to see hundreds of other kids just like them – they all just fit in!
If I were doing it all over…
I have to admit, I have always felt my strengths were on the advocacy side for my son and for individuals with disabilities, however, my teaching background has proven to be a tremendous asset for coaching and anyone willing to learn can demonstrate some success at it – so I am happy to say I would do this all over again!
Advice or tip for other Hockey Moms. 1. My tip to other hockey moms would be to take the time to get to know your neighbor and use all you time wisely. Taking the time to get to know the other hockey parents at the arena creates some off-ice team building and it is amazing the wealth of information that is gathered in the stands beside you – hockey parents are great people and we should not miss the opportunity to get the know them.
2. I would also suggest that for those waiting for the practice to end – use that time to read a good book and relax or maybe read something educational. It may not be a hot bubble bath, but using time at the rink for a little “alone time” puts a positive spin on the situation and you can actually look forward to hockey season instead of cringing! |
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