Jan 31, 2008 8:34 pm US/Central
RIC Blackhawks Athletes Shine On The Ice
Sled Ice Hockey Gives Disabled Athletes Chance To Compete, Be Active Again
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago teamed up with the Chicago Blackhawks to help give disabled athletes a chance to compete and be active again.
CBS
This year the Chicago Blackhawks are in the midst of a hockey renaissance on the West Side. But did you know the organization has been a part of the continued success of a different team over the last decade?
Meet the RIC Blackhawks. In hockey, the goal is simple: put the puck in the net. The RIC Blackhawks may be sitting down when they hit the ice, but the objective is still the same.
"We're hockey players, regardless of how you want to look at it," said Patrick Byrne. "The only thing we do differently is we're sitting in a sled and we have two sticks instead of one stick."
Formed by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and supported in part by Blackhawks Charities, the sled hockey team has helped disabled persons stay active and compete since 1999.
"It's really the spirit and mission behind Wirtz Sports Program and the fitness program is giving an individual an opportunity," said Mitch Carr. "We're all interested in sport and we don't want to limit an individual because they have a disability."
"I never thought a person on one leg could play sports," Byrne said. "I came out and watched them out here and once I saw it for the first time, I fell in love with it."
"Mainly you're using a lot of upper body strength... not so much your legs because they're strapped in," said Erica Mitchell. "When you play with able bodies, when you put them in a sled, you strap them in and they don't know what to do because they're so used to playing with their legs."
More importantly, sled hockey gives athletes hope.
"After someone has an accident, they don't know what's out there for them. They just think 'Oh, I'm going to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life,'" Mitchell said. "But once they see that there's other sports they can play, most of them do really well then."
"You can't beat this, because besides the exercise, this is a network... they're my friends," said Ramon, also an RIC Blackhawks athlete. "If I need something, I can talk to them. So it helps get me out of the house. People shouldn't be at home or in nursing homes. They should be out here on the ice."
The team plays in tournaments across the country, and you can see them at the United Center on March 7 before the Blackhawks game.
Mitchell is on the Junior USA National team and is an Olympic hopeful.
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