SPECIAL HOCKEY
The Richmond Retriever’s mission is to offer the community an adaptive ice hockey experience for individuals ages 5 and up who have diverse developmental/physical disabilities or impairments to be part of an all inclusive team. Our focus is to build confidence, socialization, and self-expression while exercising gross and fine motor skills in a safe and supportive environment.
The MAGIC in his eyes
is the same magic that I see during anything he loves that is considered therapeutic. He does equine therapy and swimming, both therapeutic activities. Hockey HEALS. Special hockey should have always been here in Richmond..and now it is, and it’s here to stay. The same magic in his eyes is the magic in all his teammates eyes. When my son is on the ice with his team, he is a hockey player. He isn’t defined by a diagnosis or a disability. He is a hockey player. His disabilities are accommodated so he can have the ABILITY to play hockey just like anyone else. NOBODY should EVER be made to feel like they CAN’T do something in life. Hockey is for EVERYONE.
I started this special ice hockey team for my son, Kazim. He is 6 and has several developmental disabilities which include hypotonia, non-verbal autism, epilepsy, and a global developmental delay. Kazim loves being active and enjoys ice skating very much. I’ve been teaching him, and while he’s still a full assist beginner, he loves every minute of it. As I love every minute of teaching him.
As a former ice hockey player, passing down my love for the game and sharing my skills with my son is an honor and privilege. His gross and fine motor challenges require me to introduce new and creative solutions to his training. Something as basic as holding a hockey stick was a huge goal for my son. I noticed he felt more comfortable holding a plastic, circular golf club versus a heavier squared stick made of wood.
After sharing this challenge with a friend, I was advised to try a lightweight Salming brand floor hockey stick. He took to this stick immediately and it felt incredibly good to find that solution and help him overcome that challenge. Skills that many take for granted as “simple” are often huge triumphs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Being part of that skill building evolution has become my passion and my mission for, not only my son, but for anyone who wants to learn this amazing sport.
After a year of helping my son build on some basic hockey skills, I tried to find a hockey team in our area that was both adaptive and specifically geared towards our special needs community. These teams exist under an amazing non-profit league called ASHA (American Special Hockey Association). I spent an entire day posting my need on multiple social media outlets, expressing that if we couldn’t find a team that I wanted to start one. A few hours later, I received a phone call from the league that would change everything. After about an hour conversation, I had agreed to start my own adaptive ice hockey team for individuals ages 5 and up with developmental/intellectual disabilities. This has been my dream and now it’s a reality.
Having an adaptive ice hockey team allows for inclusive individual differences in cognitive, behavioral, and physical abilities. Hockey supports every area of development in all people, but particularly in those with special needs. It also supports every goal in all IEP, 504 plan, and behavioral plans in a more motivating setting. Goals that are a struggle in the classroom or at home bloom on the ice. Hockey practice is a structured activity. My son, like many other individuals in our community, cannot functionally participate in social activities without the proper supports or structures in place. Hockey gets players out of the house, engaged with the community, and provides respite for caregivers.
Randi-Lyn Miller-Gol
Founder and President of the Richmond Retrievers
MY MINI AND ME DURING PUBLIC SKATING BEFORE I STARTED THE TEAM
It’s not about HOCKEY, It’s about the COMMUNITY. You’re not gonna find a community like this anywhere else.
We’re not just a team, we’re a family.
There's no way to describe the feeling you get when you open your garage door to giant boxes stacked to the sky from the NHL.
I started my hockey team in March, but I was dreaming about it for a year prior. I wanted to start a hockey team for my little boy who has autism, epilepsy, and hypotonia..who is nonverbal. Who loves hockey. For him and all the other individuals in our community like him who love hockey but couldn't play on a team. Who watch their siblings play hockey on a team, silently, on the bleachers. Once I posted/manifested my readiness to finally make this dream a reality, it only took Jen O'Brien from the American Special Hockey Association less than 24 hours to find. LESS THAN 24 hours her phone number was in my inbox along with a warm welcome to the league. I remember she called me again in less than 48 hours later saying the Washington Capitals extended their warm welcome to my new team as well.
By April, I told Jen our name and showed her our logo. Our name was inspired by my son's favorite NHL player/friend, Ryan Donato's (of the San Jose Sharks ) golden retriever named Moose. Our logo was a donated gift from a graphic design company called SoWhatTeaCup! They wouldn't accept a dime from me for our logo. We're doing God's good work.
We became an official registered team with the American Special Hockey Association. By May, I hosted our first team Meet and Greet. By June, we were warmly welcomed by SkateNation Plus with a home rink and, with the support of Leveling the Playing Field, the NOVA Cool Cats, and a few amazing volunteers, we had the bare minimum required to hit the ice for "try its". Thanks to the endless strings of emails back and forth with Melissa from the Washington Ice Dogs for mentally preparing me and answering all my questions. Thanks to Tom and Betsy Simmons, for joining us in July to help us take our team to the next level.
June and July brought my players and their families, my volunteers, and myself a whole new purpose in life. A purpose greater than ourselves. This isn't just about hockey. This isn't just a team. The Richmond Retrievers are our COMMUNITY. Our FAMILY. A place where players abilities are able to grow with the safety and support they need. A place where our players families can breathe and enjoy their coffee or tea in the morning, knowing their loved one is participating in a social community that accepts them for who they are as both a hockey player and an individual. Disabilities are accomodated. Abilities are highlighted. The only thing this team desperately needed was full sets of equipment. The NHL learned about our need from Jen, who has been tirelessly advocating for us on top of everything else she does for so many.
Part of my mission when I started this team, which is the same mission for all the ASHA teams, is to provide players with equipment to take the astronomical expense off our families. The cost that comes with having a disability is enough. Hockey should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, income, or anything else. Nobody should ever feel like they can't play hockey. Hockey is a sport that heals. It should be accessible to everyone. HOCKEY IS FOR EVERYONE.
Our team belongs to the community as a non-profit organization. We run off the generosity of our local community through monetary and equipment donations. Most importantly, we run off the love and dedication of our volunteers.
Jen told me in the beginning not to worry about anything. She promised it would all come together. I spent countless sleepless nights pulling together the logistics for this team, building the foundation and making connections (something my introverted self wasn't always great at, but that's the magic of hockey). And here we are.. standing in front of a stack of boxes from the ground to the clouds, filled .. no... crammed with brand new hockey equipment to show their support to my team. I'm in tears. I'm a former goaltender, a mom, and the founder of a special hockey team. I'm here to help change lives. This isn't just an NHL equipment donation to us. It's the affirmation that we're accepted by the NHL. That we're seen and we're welcomed. Nobody has to watch from the bleachers anymore. Siblings can bond through sharing their hockey experiences. Parents can network and build support systems. Our loved ones can make friends.
Thank you to the NHL for this incredible act of generosity. This acceptance. I'm blown away. I don't think I felt this airy since I first stated playing hockey myself, or since I got to meet my own favorite NHL player, Teddy Donato, back in the 90s. This is right up there with those moments in life. Not an easy place to rank.
The Richmond Retrievers and ASHA are non-profit organizations which run on the love and support of the community. We have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for ableism, racism, sexism, harassment, or hate of any kind.
We are proud members of The American Special Hockey Association (ASHA).
