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24 and blind hockey has since become one of the fastest growing segments of Disabled Hockey. Gillen has been a disabled programs direc- tor for USA Hockey in Minnesota for near- ly 12 years, and has organized Minnesota Warrior hockey programs for veterans injured in combat, special hockey programs and sled hockey programs. The reaction to the blind hockey program was greater than she could have ever expected. "Surprisingly, we had amazing responses," she said. "We're very used to starting pro- grams in Minnesota for hockey, but this one really took me by surprise as to how amazing- ly responsive not only the community was, but also the Wild and the players." Some of Gillen's first contacts were with the Minnesota State Services for the Blind in Mankato. They were able to send infor- mation out via radio and correspond through their network to assist in find- ing coaches. The response led Gillen to Lonny Evans. In addition to coaching with two other coaches and helping to orga- nize players and volunteers at prac- tices, Evans volunteers his time as a program director, which involves connecting with many fami- lies and communities. For Evans, the chance to help pioneer a sport for disabled athletes is close to home. "Our daughter was adopted from Russia," Evans said. "Elena came home at three and a half and had never taken a step. Her legs were not fully developed and she had both feet amputated that summer. After she healed up, she took her first steps, and then two years later, she was the only girl on an all-boys Mite hockey team out in Minnetonka. She played with kids who were able-bodied. Then we got involved with USA Hockey, the amputee side. It was amazing … That's how I first got involved and connected with Toni." In his experience helping with Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey, Evans knows there's still work to be done. But the success of the pro- gram so far has been phenomenal. "We're being purposeful," Evans said. "But since it's so new and you just don't know who's going to be there or how many we're going to get or what the dynamic will be—we have to be really flexible and fluid." CHANGING THE GAME Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey welcomes all players with open arms. From its youngest 9-year-old skater to its oldest who is in his 50s, the program is all-inclusive. "It's a wide spectrum," Gillen said. "Some of them have played hockey before. We have some folks who played hockey as youth in high school and their vision has either been impaired through either a degenerative con- dition or through injury—so they're just lov- ing to get back on the ice again—all the way down to individuals who were born visually impaired, or it was just kind of a gradual thing through their youth." Whatever their level of experience, play- ers participate in the sport with minimal adaptations to the traditional game. Nets are three feet high instead of four feet high, and the puck is much larger and louder. Teams are also required to complete one pass in the attacking zone prior to being able to score. To help indicate when the attacking team is eligible to score, officials use a different whistle. Players also play in different positions, depending on their visual acuity. The more a player can see, the further up they play. All skaters have some level of visual impair- ment, but goalies are typically completely blind. If they're not, they're blindfolded. "We've got bigger, older skaters—we've got smaller, younger skaters and everything in between," Evans said. " Because of that, we're able to utilize a bunch of different volunteers." Photos / Elizabeth Boger M H J O N L I N E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 A NEW VISION THE BLIND HOCKEY PUCK k The adapted puck makes noise and is both bigger and slower than a traditional puck. Blind hockey pucks are made of hollow steel and contain eight ball-bearings. They are made by hand by welding a steel band around two circular discs, filled with ball bearings, then painted black. Source: blindicehockey.com 5.5" 1.875" 8 ball bearings steel casing "For those who have played hockey in the past, this is another way to regain their life back again. For the majority of our players, especially the youth, they never thought they'd ever be able to play the sport. To be able to be on the ice, to feel so supported and be a hockey player… I literally go home tearing up every night after practices. We're doing something so special here." – Toni Gillen Ava Huggins, 9, works on her passing skills during the Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey team's practice at Xcel Energy Center.