‘Inclusion on Ice’ Provides Quality Family Time for All at Wheeling Park
Derek Redd Trending
WHEELING - Hundreds turned out to the J.B. Chambers Memorial Ice Rink Sunday to take advantage of the cold weather for the second annual Inclusion On Ice event.
Inclusion On Ice began with an exhibition game of sled hockey between the Mighty Penguins sled hockey team and team made up of players from the Wheeling Nailers and Wheeling Lightningbirds. A free skate followed for anyone of any level of skill or ability who wanted to hit the ice. Volunteers from several local schools, including the Linsly School, Wheeling Park and Wheeling Central Catholic High School came to assist with the event.
The event was hosted by Easterseals Rehabilitaion Center and the Augusta Levy Learning Center.
This was the second year for the event, which was the brainchild of David George, who said he drew inspiration from The Who's rock opera "Tommy," which George had helped recently perform at Bethany College in 2022. In "Tommy," the eponymous character discovers his hidden potential as a pinball wizard, while George hopes to inspire a similar feeling of freedom from limitations on the ice rink.
"I found out that (my) learning challenges were derived from a high functioning form of autism," George said. "… The character that Pete Townsend created, Tommy, is also a kid with autism, but he overcomes some of his limitations, in the same way I'm trying to do myself."
George has a background in hockey, playing at Wheeling Park and with the Greater Pittsburgh Special Hockey Association, which has begun expanding from the Steel City, and which George hopes will eventually become a presence in Wheeling.
"It's expanding in such a way where it's raised heightened awareness of people with special needs and disabilities, and doing it in a way to bring people together, understanding neurodiversity. Everyone needs to feel motivated, integrated and included, and feel like he or she has a purpose to their life rather than feeling wrongly marginalized and disenfranchised.
"Hopefully, more job opportunities might be created through these efforts," he added. "Everyone at every age needs to feel like they're part of a community, rather than feeling like they're on the outside being forced to look in, without being on the inside at all."
The day's events kicked off with a game of sled hockey between the Mighty Penguins - a Pittsburgh sled hockey club - and the Wheeling Nailers and Lightningbirds, more used to their bladed skates than slugging it out on sleds. Sled hockey, which has players utilize a sled propelled by the players' upper body, was a different game than the experienced players were used to, but the Wheeling crews learned quickly - the Mighty Penguins only pulled out a win in overtime after a tie 5-5 game.
Wheeling Lightningbirds player Ashley Beltrondo said the exhibition was both fun and challenging. It was fun for her to join both her teammates and the Mighty Penguins on the ice for such a special event.
"When you’re out there, you definitely have to change that mindset because you’re thinking that you’re trying to go and you need to use all (your) arms," she said. "So it’s definitely a challenge, you have to push everything with your arms and then try to puck, handle and skate at the same time. That was very difficult."
Mighty Penguins player Kevin Novess hasn't been on the team for long, but he loves that, after losing his leg, he has found this outlet to compete and stay fit.
"It's more about just being able to do it with different abilities," he said. "We all have different abilities and disabilities on our team. And it's nice to come out and show the public that we can still participate in sports, even though we may be in a wheelchair or (have) disabilities with walking."
After the game, free skate was held until 3 p.m., which was open to the public. In addition to the rink, inflatable bounce houses were set up, food and hot chocolate was made available, and other goodies like arcade games, costumed superheroes - courtesy of the Valley Avengers - and face painting provided by local artist Amanda Carney.