The Philadelphia area hockey community came together at Hatfield Ice Arena Thursday night in support of Philadelphia Blind Hockey and that organization’s efforts to provide access to the sort to those with visual disabilities.
The second annual showcase brought together 10 high-school teams and a college club team who played a series of 15-minute four-on-four games while wearing specially designed goggles that replicated various visual impairments.
The evening also included teams representing Philadelphia Blind Hockey’s coaching staff, the Philadelphia Flyers’ community relations staff, and two teams representing the Flyers Warriors, which features players with disabilities.
The participants offered unique perspectives on the experience
Malvern Prep senior Gabe Bedwell joined several of his teammates on a squad that featured players from the Pennridge boys’ and girls’ teams. He said the experience of playing hockey with restricted vision left him with a sense of gratitude.
“It really does make me so thankful to have the vision that I have,” he said. “it really is just a gift from God, it just makes your heart bleed for people that aren’t as fortunate as you.
Bedwell had the opportunity to experience various vision issues, however briefly, with multiple pairs of goggles.
“One, I think it was cataracts,” he said. “You couldn’t see anything. Honestly, that was an experience. I think I had a goal with them somehow, And, the other ones were also very challenging.”
Bedwell was asked what it was like to play hockey with restricted vision.
“It’s hard to explain honestly,” he said. “It’s a weird experience.
“When I tried with the [cataract glasses] it was the hardest one. You could see colors and shapes but you didn’t know where their sticks were at all, you didn’t know how or when they were going to get to you. The closing speed was definitely a lot different and it’s just really like a guessing game sometimes. You just don’t know where you’re going.”
Bedwell noted that participating in the showcase was in keeping with Malvern Prep’s philosophy of community service.
“This is honestly one of the most impactful things I’ve done,” he said. “I think it really spreads awareness [the APAC] itself too. It’s pretty cool. It was honestly a great experience and it was actually fun.”
Former Flyer Brad Marsh skated with the Flyers’ community service team. Marsh played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League, including seven with the Flyers, but Thursday night was a new experience for him.
“Well, I’ll tell you, it was awkward,” he said. “It was weird, it was difficult, but it was quite a unique experience.”
Marsh was asked about how he and fellow Flyers alum Doug Crossman approached skating with restricted vision.
“Well, the thing is we do know how to skate, ”Marsh said “so our main goal was to keep our balance and stay out of everybody’s way.
“But it was fun. Whenever you can play hockey it’s great and USA Hockey and Canadian amateur hockey, they’ve done a great job incorporating the various disabilities into the game of hockey. Blind hockey, deaf hockey, sled hockey, I know I’m missing some, but hats off to the hockey associations for making the game accessible to people with disabilities.”
Marsh was asked what he wanted the high-school and college player who participated to take away from the experience.
“That they get an understanding of playing the game with a handicap,” he said. “And it gives them an appreciation of what they have. Whenever you can expose young people to something new, it’s a great learning experience.”
• In addition to Malvern Prep. the participating schools included North Penn, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, Pennridge [boys and girls] Holy Ghost Prep, Haverford High, Penncrest, Father Judge and the Neumann University men’s club team.
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