Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1112485
USICERINKS.COM MAY.JUNE.2019 / 43 hosted a three-game series between the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team and the first U.S. Blind Hockey Team in October 2018. The U.S. is now home to nine established blind hockey teams from New York to Denver. What's different? Few adaptations are made to the game, but the biggest difference is the puck. It's large, the size of a dinner plate and slower than a traditional hockey puck. "It's all about sound," Hutchens said as he shot the puck into the net during practice. "There are ball bearings inside these pucks and they roll around inside the metal." Players participating in blind hockey programs all have some level of visual impairment. While some leagues are more recreational, players participating in competition under USA Hockey are all legally blind and are rated per International Blind Sports Federation classification as B1 (no vision, one point), B2 (approximately 5 percent functional vision or less, two points) or a B3 (10 percent or less, three points). Each team is allowed no more than 14 vision points, and goalies for each team tend to be B1 or blindfolded to keep things even. Other adaptations to the game include the elimination of intentional body checking (bumps, like hockey in general will happen). Nets are 3 feet high instead of 4 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 WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR BLIND HOCKEY? • An adapted blind hockey puck designed for the game to make noise and is both bigger and slower than a traditional puck. • Custom three-foot high nets • Full protective gear (no different from able-bodied hockey) Specializing in portable ice rink production, sales, rentals, and ice rink operations management, Ice-America features the Ice-World aluminum foldable fl oors, patented skating aids, ice bikes, rolling skate racks, on-ice dividers, Roxa rental skates, and more to create immersive ice based experiences for our rinks and clients. Contact us at: sales@ice-america.com | 323-776-9423 Check out how we can work with you: www.ice-America.com Create zones and spacial experiences with On-ice decorative dividers and benches for public sessions and special events THE BASE Bobby the Seal One-of-a-kind skating aid One-of-a-kind One-of-a-kind skating aid Tommy the Reindeer All new skating aid IceByk Drift Tryk Bobby the Seal, Tommy the Reindeer & Ice Byk skating rides/aids Tommy & Ice Byk skating rides/aids & Ice Byk skating rides/aids & Ice Byk skating rides/aids Tommy the Reindeer® Three colours, orange, exclusively on