Michigan teenager helps brother raise awareness on Cerebral Palsy

Source: The Cerebral Palsy Swagger Facebook page

This is an amazing story about Hunter Gandee from Michigan who helped his 8-year-old brother Braden raise awareness on Cerebral Palsy by carrying him on a 40 mile walk in June 2014. Braden seems like a spirited young boy who is willing to try his hardest at everything including sledge hockey and wrestling, even though he has a disability.

“But if you put your mind to it and try hard enough, maybe actually you can do it” - Braden Gandee

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153072083763689

You can follow the brothers on their Facebook page The Cerebral Palsy Swagger.

ParaPan 101: Goalball

Source: Canadian Paralympic Committee Facebook Page

Goalball was originally created to help World War Two veterans with visual impairments during rehabilitation. It was eventually nominated as a demonstration sport at the 1976 Summer Paralympics in Toronto, and officially became part of the program in 1980.

A Goalball team consists of six players per team, and only three players are allowed on the floor at a time. There are only three positions including center, left and right wings, and all three players contribute to offense and defense. Two 12 minute halves are played. They use a round blue ball with bells in it, which helps the athletes hear the ball. The object of the game is to score as many goals in the opponents net as you can.

Results from 2011 ParaPan Am Games:
Men: Gold: Brazil / Silver: USA / Bronze: Mexico / 4th: Canada.
Women: Gold: USA / Silver: Brazil / Bronze: Canada.
Click here for more results.

Venue for 2015:
Mississauga Sports Centre at 5500 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, Ontario.

Mustangs end first half on a high note in a game of firsts

December 20, 2014 – Saints vs. Mustangs (Boxscore)

In the last game before the Christmas break the Mustangs took to the floor against the Saints.  

The Saints opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Matt Cockburn – his first of the season, and in the senior league.

Mike Iacovone would answer back early in the second period to tie the game at 1 goal apiece before Brandy Edwards would take the Saints into the third period with a one goal lead.

The third period was a back and forth battle of shots where both Brad Gordon and Tracey Taylor traded saves with players on both teams trying to figure out what it would take to beat them again. The Mustangs finally figured out what that would take at the 8 minute mark of the third period where Istok Vidmar scored his first goal of the 2014-2015 season unassisted tying the game at 2. Thus giving the Mustangs their first game point of the season since November 1^st.

2014 Year in Review, Looking forward to 2015 and the ParaPan Games

Wow, I can't believe another year has come and gone! Our blogging team has grown to 7 people, which includes myself, Donald, Neil, and new members Alexis, Julie, Nicole, and RV. Thanks to the team we have written 157 articles (including our Sports, Technology, Travel, and Work blogs) and there has been 19,500 more page views than last year.

Here are our reflections of 2014 successes:

• Continued success with TPWHL Game summaries.
• New success with the Chair Yoga bi–weekly segment by Julie.
• Most viewed SportsEnables.Me article is the Electric Hockey Demo at Variety Village.
• Most viewed TechnologyEnables.Me articles are the Assistive Technology Holiday Gift Guide and The Wheelmap app will take you places.
• Most viewed TravelEnables.Me article is the Rail Trip to Ottawa; and WorkEnables.Me article is The Ontario Direct Funding Program article from our guest writer Connie.

Here are some of our favorite articles:

1. Road trip to the USA! Accessibility travel!
2. The 2014 PowerHockey Cup.
3. The always enjoyable articles written by Donald Barrie, which includes the 2014 Sochi Paralympics coverage.
4. VAT (Voter Assist Terminal) article from TechnologyEnables.Me.
5. Windreach Farm and My Adventure in Whitehorse article from TravelEnables.Me.

In 2015 we are looking forward to:

• Writing about the 2015 ParaPan Games in Toronto, Ontario happening between August 7th to the 15th!
• Covering a wide variety of stories, experiences and events related to accessibility.
• Continue to grow our team of writers.

I would like to wish all of you a healthy and successful 2015!

Isaac leads Kings over Wolves

Created by Neil

December 20, 2014 – Kings vs. Wolves (Boxscore)

The Kings doubled up the Wolves 6 – 3 avenging an earlier defeat in the season.

In the first period, Saverio Romano gave the Wolves an early 1 – 0 lead. The Kings would answer back at 8:45 on a goal from Isaac to tie the game. However two minutes later at 10:45 the Wolves would take the lead again 2 – 1 on a beautiful shot from Saverio Romano assisted by Mitchell Stark.The Kings Isaac once again tied the game in the dying seconds to end the frame.

In the second period, the Kings took their first lead of the game 3 – 2 on a goal from substitute player Jeremy who was left in front of the Wolves net for the easy tap in, after a deflection off a defenseman. Before the end of the frame the Wolves would tie the game at 3 from Saverio Romano's hat trick goal assisted by Mitchell Stark.

In the third period, Jeremy deked out the Wolves defense and scored on the backhand to give the Kings a 4 – 3 lead. Four minutes later he would once again score on a high looping shot for a two-goal 8dvantage. Isaac rounded out the scoring with his hat trick goal. The Kings goalie Leo Xu was great in helping his team to close out the game, and the defense played solid as well.

The TPWHL season will resume in the new year on January 17.

Roberto makes debut in hard-fought battle against Bulldogs

Created by Neil

December 13, 2014 – Bulldogs vs. Mustangs (Boxscore)

Both teams battled hard in a 4 – 2 win for the Bulldogs.

In the first period, Jerry Mariano would score twice to help give the Bulldogs a 2 – 0 lead. It was Jerry's 22nd goal of the season.

In the second period, it was scoreless with a strong effort by both goalies Brad Gordon and Mohit Sharma keeping the score close.

In the third period, Mustangs rookie Roberto Monteiro who was playing his first ever PowerHockey game, scored his first goal to cut the lead to 2 – 1 assisted by Nicole Neeson at 2:25. However at 5:05 the Bulldogs would score twice in a minute to take a 4 – 1 lead, thanks to Christine Pacheco's second goal of the season and Monique Lawrence's first goal assisted by Jerry Mariano. The Mustangs would continue fighting hard with Nicole Neeson's 10th goal of the season assisted by Roberto Monteiro with five minutes remaining, but were unable to get another one pass the Bulldogs goalie.

Saints snaps the Kings three-game winning streak

Created by Neil

December 13, 2014 – Saints vs. Kings (Boxscore)

The Saints win 4 – 3 snapping the Kings three-game winning streak.

In the first period, it was all Saints where Brandy Edwards scored three goals to help her team lead 3 – 0.

In the second period, the Saints would extend the lead to 4 – 0 at 7:15 on a goal from substitute player Roberto Monteiro assisted by Brandy Edwards. However starting 13 seconds later the Kings picked up their game and scored 3 straight goals to cut the lead to 4 – 3. Two of the goals were scored by Isaac, Sharmin Alam would add a goal and an assist, and David Donnelly contributed with three assists.

In the third period, the Kings had a lot of great chances to tie the game including on the power-play with Saints Brandy Edwards in the penalty box for dangerous driving at 9:50. But the Kings was turned aside by Tracey Taylor who had a solid effort in net, and also great defensive plays from the team to preserve the win.