Kelsey McGuire, the founder and executive director of Philadelphia Blind Hockey, has been named as one of three American finalists for the National Hockey League’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award Presented by Discover.
The general public my cast votes for the nominee of their choice through May 19. The public’s vote will be combined with votes by NHL executives and O’Ree himself before the winner is announced in June.
Individuals can vote once in each 24-hour period through this link.
The Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award honors the NHL’s first Back player. O’Ree played in his first NHL game for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958 despite being blind in his right eye. His 21-year professional career included 45 NHL appearances, all with the Bruins. The bulk of his career was spent in the Western Hockey League.
For more than 25 years, O’Ree has served as the NHL’s Diversity Ambassador, promoting the importance of inclusion and diversity in the sport.
Hatfield Ice was the venue on Sunday as Philadelphia Blind Hockey held a clinic for visually impaired youngsters. Attendance was limited because of the weather and related road closures, but Kelsey McGuire, Philadelphia Blind Hockey’s founder and executive director says, the enthusiasm of the participants made up for the lack of numbers.
“We had one new player who signed up; it was her first time ever being out on the ice,” she said, “and the rest were returning players that were so excited to be back on the ice.
It was so good to see them.”
The PBH staff was supported by members of the Pennridge hockey team, who renewed relationships with players they had worked with at a clinic this past spring.
“There was a bunch of them there where it was their second time doing it,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “I didn’t ask them this time, they all volunteered to do it on their own; they came to me.
“We had six kids all together. For four of them it was their second time doing it. They really, really enjoyed doing that. And they’re starting to know who a couple of the kids are. They’re building a relationship with them.”
McGuire says Pennridge players are looking for ways to support Philadelphia Blind Hockey that go beyond being on the ice, including designing and building sleds for the program’s participants to help them become more comfortable on skates.
“So they won’t be leaning on sticks and actually learning how to skate properly with their head up,” McGuire said, “and not be afraid to fall.
“[The Pennridge players] came to me and said ‘We want to go even farther to give back to your program.’ They just love the kids and they love everything that we do.”
McGuire says the Blind Hockey program enhances the participants’ self-confidence.
“You just see in some of our younger kids,” she said. “That they’re so much more outgoing and they’re not afraid, which is a big part of it.
“Kids are always [being told] ‘They can’t do that.’ And this gives them the opportunity to prove that they can do it.”
The next Philadelphia Blind Hockey event is scheduled for Saturday, August 5 at Hatfield Ice from noon until 2:00.
Hockey Happenings 