BHC's fledgling special-needs ice hockey program taking off

Left: Ocean Township's Evan Yasser, 9, comes out of the crease to make a save during the Brick Hockey Club's new special needs hockey clinic at the Ocean Ice Palace on Nov. 8. Right: Brick Hockey Club's Stars players get a turn on the ice. BRICK TOWNSHIP — Although few have yet heard of the Brick Hockey Club Stars, Alex DePalma hopes to change that.

"My goal for the program is to reach about 30 to 35 kids and find a team that plays other special ed kids," said DePalma, coaching director for the Brick Hockey Club.

DePalma and a host of volunteers have been hitting the rink at the Ocean Ice Palace on Chambers Bridge Road every Sunday morning for the past seven weeks. They come to give mentally challenged boys and girls ages 5 through 14 an introduction to ice hockey.

And even if a player never ends up playing in a real game, it doesn't matter, DePalma said.

"There are a portion of players who are never going to get to that point, but I don't care," he said. "This is for the parents and for them."

Some of the children who participate in the clinic are nonverbal. Others have autism or Down syndrome. But whatever the mental disability, all are welcome, even if they don't live in Brick, DePalma said.

"It's open to whoever can get here," he said. "There's no parameters on the program. It just can't be a physical disability."

The Brick Hockey Club already has a special "sled hockey" program for physically disabled children, he said.

DePalma and other Brick Hockey Club officials had a problem earlier this year. They were paying for ice time at the Ocean Ice Palace on Chambers Bridge Road, but a team expected to form did not materialize. De- Palma was approached two years ago about starting a special needs ice hockey program, but the club didn't have the ice time back then.

This year, the ice was available. So the Brick Hockey Club Stars program was born.

"I'm learning from them," DePalma said. "Some of the kids came on week one and didn't even want to put on a helmet. Now they are skating on their own.

"We haven't had one child leave the program," he added. "We're up to 17. We had another boy sign up today."

And DePalma is touched by the help he's been getting from volunteers who show up every Sunday morning to help get the children into their uniforms, put their equipment on and get them out on the ice.

His helpers range from 8-year-olds in the regular Brick Hockey Club programs, teenagers, and several women who deal with special education children and can skate themselves.

"I have my players," he said. "I tell them to go help them dress. I have 8-year-olds helping other kids put their skates on. I didn't have to ask them. They are just showing up."

Ocean Ice Palace owner Joan Dwulet donated the jerseys for the clinic, DePalma said.

"She's been very positive," he said. "She's been with us 100 percent."

But DePalma said he is always looking for more volunteers and hopes to get some corporate sponsors interested in the program.

"We'd like to make it as inexpensive as possible," he said. "We are looking for sponsors, we are looking for players."

The cost of the eight-week clinic is $160, but DePalma hopes to drop that to $100 with more sponsorship. Children do not need to sign up for the whole eight weeks. They can come just for one session, he said.

"I have parents tell me that all week long their kid asks, 'When are we going to hockey?' " DePalma said. "The word is getting out about this great program. I'm passionate about it. I believe in it."

Another eight-week clinic will start as soon as the current program finishes on Sunday. Parents and guardians interested in enrolling their children or volunteering can contact DePalma at 908-482-1105 or at alexdepalma@comcast.net.