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Minnesota Hockey Announces Addition of Blind Hockey

By Jared, 09/18/18, 6:15PM CDT

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Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey to Host Kick Off Event October 21st

St. Paul, MN – September 17, 2018 – Minnesota Hockey, in partnership with the Minnesota Wild, announced today it will be launching a new disabled hockey program for players in Minnesota with visual impairments. The Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey program will kick off its inaugural season with a Try Blind Hockey Event on Sunday, October 21 at HealthEast Sports Center in Woodbury, MN.

Blind hockey, which is the newest discipline of disabled hockey, is the same exhilarating, fast-paced sport of hockey with minimal rule adaptations to make the game accessible for players who are all legally blind. The most significant modification is that the sport features an adapted puck that makes noise, and is bigger and slower than a traditional puck.

“Minnesota Disabled Hockey is proud to offer our newest program, Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey, to our list of programs for people of all abilities in the State of Hockey,” said Minnesota Hockey Disabled Hockey Director Antonia Gillen.  “This program will create opportunities for people with visual impairments to play hockey and expands the network of hockey programs for people in Minnesota with varying disabilities. We are so grateful for the continued support of the Minnesota Wild and their assistance in reaching another group of individuals who would otherwise not have the chance to play the sport we all enjoy.”

The Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey program has opened registration and will remain open to the first 20 players of all ages. Following the kickoff event in October, the program will feature weekly ice sessions at TRIA Rink in St. Paul. The ice sessions will be designed to teach players basic skating and hockey skills while emphasizing the development of sportsmanship, team spirit, increased confidence, pride, and team unity.

“Our organization is very proud to support the creation of The Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey program,” said Minnesota Wild President Matt Majka. “Our organization believes strongly that hockey is for everyone and this new program will provide people with visual impairments the opportunity to play the great sport of hockey.”

For additional information on blind hockey or to register, visit mnspecialhockey.org/blindhockey.

Minnesota Disabled Hockey is the largest hockey program for players with disabilities in the country. Minnesota Disabled Hockey provides four disciplines of hockey opportunities for kids and adults in Minnesota including Special Hockey, Sled Hockey and the Minnesota Warriors.


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