Nonprofit group helps the blind play hockey

NHL All-Star Game

Nonprofit group helps the blind play hockey

Jan 25, 2011

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Raleigh, N.C. — A Canadian man is using the NHL All-Star game in Raleigh this week to help raise awareness for his nonprofit organization, which helps the visually impaired get involved in hockey.

Mark DeMontis founded Courage Canada in 2008, several years after finding out that he suffered from a condition that made him legally blind and unable to play hockey.

“When I was told I was visually impaired, I had to stop playing the game and start playing blind hockey,” DeMontis said.

In blind hockey, a tin can substitutes for a puck. The players use their sense of hearing to track the puck.

A group of students from the Governor Morehead School for the Blind took part in a game of hockey on Tuesday.

“The most important thing for the visually impaired is realizing their own potential, realizing that they have the opportunity to do a lot of things sighted people can,” DeMontis said.

DeMontis said he is looking to work with eight design students from North Carolina State University on developing an improved adaptive puck.

“We’re hoping to do a little more research about the type of puck the blind Canadians use in their hockey, so that we can apply that to our senior design project that we’re working now, trying to develop a better puck,” N.C. State engineering student Richard Norris said.

Their innovation might help expand the sport to other parts of the world.

“The more you get people to be able to participate in any sport, let alone ice hockey, it brings a little bit more joy to your life…a little bit more sense of purpose,” said Pal Strand, youth and amateur hockey coordinator for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Reporter: Gerald Owens
Photographer: Mark Simpson
Web Editor: Kathy Hanrahan