Developmentally disabled hockey players enjoy Canada's favourite sport in events organized by Special Hockey International.
I knew before they stepped out onto the ice – tentatively, boldly, shyly, enthusiastically -- that this was going to be a special game; hockey like I had never before seen it.
That was nearly seven years ago and the Ottawa Valley Ambassadors (OVA) www.ovahockey.org, a team of developmentally disabled players from Canada's capital city, were facing off against the Carp Blades of the Ottawa District Women’s Hockey Association. I
Twenty-six year old Samantha Dubois is especially proud to participate in the game. Dubois has Downs Syndrome and playing hockey was a dream her family thought she would never realize.
During her first hockey season Samantha held herself up using a walker, with her teammates acting as guides. The camaraderie between them was heartwarming, and Samantha’s determination has never wavered.
“I like hockey every time,” says the exuberant Samantha. “I like everything about it.”
Recently Samantha ditched her walker.
“She’s slow, but she gets there,” chuckles her mother, Doris Dubois. “She looks forward to hockey night. She just loves being with the group. She starts asking about it in July.”
Samantha’s father, Doug Dubois, comes from a family that is crazy about hockey and his youngest daughter caught the bug early, but like so many other kids with developmental disabilities, was always sidelined. The game was too fast, too physical, too frustrating.
Born just 15 days apart from her cousin, Scott Hamilton, Doris says that Samantha was thrilled to be able to wear his old equipment and finally get into the game.
“They take a lot of pride in their team,” says assistant coach, Glen Richardson, a former Jr. B coach. “They want to work together. We start at 9 pm but some are there by 6 p.m. When I get to the rink at 8 pm they are all there.”
Richardson, head coach Jack Watson and other volunteers tie almost all of the skates.
And thanks to a gift from the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club in 1999 they look like a team. All decked out in red, white and black wind suits, carry matching bags and proudly sporting well-maintained team jerseys, they could pass for any house league team at first glance.
Jimmy Potvin, 43, has been with the team from the beginning. His mother Gail is a past president. She says that the OVA means everything to her son, who was born with a condition that prevented his brain from developing normally. “He calls it my hockey,” she remarks.
Although not recognized in the line-up of Special Olympic sports, Special Hockey International (SHI) organizes annual events where similar teams are offered the opportunity to participate.
During the 2004-2005 season Richardson recalls that the OVA players counted themselves among 1,400 participants at an SHI event in Toronto, Canada. “Our ‘A’ team never lost a game,” he says proudly.
In 2006, SHI hosted a tournament in England. The OVA set their sights on attending, but in the end their fundraising efforts came up short.
Richardson’s son Luke plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning. During the NHL lockout Luke practiced with the OVA. A comment from one of the players as they stepped off the ice has always remained with Glen Richardson. He says it is one of the most poignant things he has ever heard in all his years of hockey.
The OVA player said: “A least he cared.”
“We really do care,” he says. “And we want to see them happy and see them play.”
