On Saturday, Lampman Lane Neighborhood Centre was the location of the first-ever VOLT hockey match in Barrie, an inclusive type of hockey that enables individuals with numerous disabilities to play the game they love.
Round 30 gamers on groups from Barrie, Toronto, London and Niagara took half within the round-robin model match, competing for gold, silver and bronze medals.
“For incapacity children, they do not get that probability fairly often to be in an organized sport,” mentioned Robert Hinbest, the match organizer.
VOLT hockey is performed in a gymnasium on a particular wheel-chair cart. It first got here to Barrie final yr, with the Barrie Volts forming and training on Saturday mornings on the Lampman Lane Neighborhood Centre. The Volts competed in tournaments within the Toronto space, together with a second-place end at a North American match that featured groups from Alberta, Manitoba and Boston.
“We mentioned we may do that in Barrie for certain,” recalled Hinbest. “Let’s get it organized and get the groups all in, and the remainder is historical past.”
The game originated in Scandinavian nations and has just lately grown in Canada, as there are actually eight groups throughout Southern Ontario.
“It is about sportsmanship, working collectively as a staff, and making friendships that possibly would’ve by no means occurred in [the players’] lives,” added Hinbest. “There are 30 gamers right here of various disabilities and stuff they’re making an attempt to beat, however after they get right here they usually’re taking part in this sport, all that goes away. They’re targeted on what the sport is about, and scoring objectives and having enjoyable.”
Whereas there may be not but a VOLT hockey league in Barrie or Southern Ontario, Hinbest hopes one could possibly be fashioned as the game continues to develop.