Johnstown Hockey Team Forming for Individuals with Disabilities

I came across a recent article posted on the internet version for the local magazine Our Town called HeyJohnstown.com.

Jacob Fitzgerald and his father Mike Fitzgerald are forming a Johnstown area sled hockey team for individuals with disabilities. An open practice and demonstrations will be held for anyone interested in joining the team on Saturday, August 16th at Planet Ice in Richland Township from 5:45 pm - 7:30 pm. The team is open to individuals of all ages with a variety of disabilities.

Mike Fitzgerald said that the rules for this sport do not differ from regular ice hockey.

"Instead of the kids being up on skates, they're sitting on a sled. They have shortened hockey sticks with picks on the end. That's how they pull themselves around the ice, with the butt end of the stick," he said.

Mike's son Jacob is 13 years old and has always been interested in hockey. He became a sled hockey fan close to 2 years ago when the Johnstown Chiefs had the Pittsburgh area sled hockey team, the Mighty Penguins, perform during an intermission of one of their games. After that, Fitzgerald began driving his son to practices in Pittsburgh every week, but would now like to start a team closer to home which is why the open practice / demonstration is scheduled. The team will operate under the Cambria County student hockey league in conjunction with USA Hockey.

"We now have 13 people in the area who are signed up and interested. We're just starting practices now, trying to get things going," he said.

"We're trying to keep it all on just donations. We're trying to keep the cost down to a minimum. Everyone has enough expenses already with therapy and hospital stays. We're trying to keep it as enjoyable and cheap as possible."

Donation checks (with "sled hockey" written in the "memo" of the check) can be made out to the Cambria County Student Hockey League and sent to Mike Fitzgerald at:

181 Fitzgerald Lane
Somerset, PA 15501