By Brian Clarke, Commissioner, All Habs Fantasy Sports, All Habs Hockey Magazine

“I just want to be on a team!”

BURLINGTON, ON. — Those were the words of Jordan Clarke as his younger brother was getting ready for his first soccer game of the year in 2011. They were filled with anguish. Jordan isn’t one to complain about his condition. In fact he never does and why I took notice. The way he cried that evening was different. It wasn’t the sort of emotion or behaviour that some kids show when things aren’t going their way. This was different. It was pure heartbreak. That night he thought HE was coming out to be on the soccer team as well. “I just want to be on a team!” I can still hear him cry those words to this day.

Jordan was seven at the time. Having cerebral palsy, visual impairment and being unable to walk without assistance means no running around on the soccer field on a warm summer evening as many able bodied children do. Coming from a family with a keen interest in sports, it was only natural for him to be driven to participate.

I recounted the story to my sister. As luck would have it, that week she had a meeting with a contact at work whose son had been part of a sledge hockey program for many years in Mississauga/Brampton, Ontario, part of Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled. The next day I spoke with her contact who gave me some details and sent me some YouTube links to show Jordan. When his tears dried I did just that. Jordan wanted to give it a try. And he hasn’t looked back.

He has now played four years in the Ontario Junior Development Sledge Hockey League and loves every minute of it. He has learned what it’s like to win and how to deal with the disappointment of not winning every game. Sledge hockey has also taught him other important lessons that are applied to other areas of life in a way that I feel only sports truly can. Such are the rewards of hard work. He has experienced the joy of camaraderie and yes, he is on a team. And when all is said and done, “hockey is hockey” and playing sledge hockey has changed his life.

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“What began as a sport in a lake in Sweden in 1961 has become an important part of Paralympic games. It’s wonderful to see the smiles on peoples’ faces as they play, and the passion they show for the sport really brought a smile to my face.” — Christyne Kavanagh, Tucker Hockey

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