A sports club in the nation’s capital is revolutionizing the athletic world by only requiring four senses to participate in friendly competition. The Washington Blind Hockey Club is one of 17 clubs in the United States offering the visually impaired a chance to work the ice.
The game has several modifications that make it easy for blind participants to play such as a bigger, hollowed-out puck with small pellets inside that make noise. The club was started seven years ago and players from ages four to 80 are welcome to try out and play.
“There was a blind hockey tryout event that happened to be four miles away from my house, and I came out scared out of my mind,” said player and coach Kevin Brown, who has been a staple member since the club’s formation. “Didn’t know what to expect, just lost the rest of my vision. I was embraced by a community to try another sport and, once I got my feet in the skates and started feeling the ice, I was hooked.”
