CLEVELAND — A teen in Ohio is sharing his love for the sport of hockey and not letting physical limitations stand in the way.
Jarrett Pasket is gearing up for a sport his dad stumbled on while looking for football leagues for his brother.
“I saw it and I was like ‘let’s do this!’”
The 20-year-old has cerebral palsy and he needs a little help from his dad to get into a sled. But when he gets on the ice, he loves being able to dominate.
Pasket plays sled hockey.
The sport has opened opportunities for this athlete to be part of a team.
“It’s helped me, you know, think ‘Oh I can do this better, I can do that better, I can help this team win.’”
Joining him on the rink is 17-year-old Gilmore Academy senior Vince Stafford, who shares his passion for hockey.
“Probably the brotherhood that you create. Go on a team, meet a whole bunch of new guys and you just create a bond that can’t be broken,” said Stafford.
Stafford has been playing since he was three and noticed physical limitations can limit who can share that bond.
He also discovered an alternative.
“I was watching sled hockey when I was a kid. I would watch the team play and just watching the passion and the fire that these kids play with inspired me to start my own organization,” said Stafford.
Stafford partnered with USA Hockey and Youth Challenge to raise thousands for equipment and ice time for those with disabilities to play and learn sled hockey.
It’s a mission that gives him perspective.
“It made me realize that no matter how hard I think things are for me, it can be so much more difficult. I tried playing sled hockey when we first assembled the sleds and it made me realize how much more difficult it is than the athletes that play it make it look. So it kind of just changed my perspective,” he said.
Stafford can’t wait to see more smiles like the ones Jarrett gets every time he takes the rink.
“If I can do it, you can do it,” said Jarrett.
“It’s seeing the kids being happy and giving them an ability to come out and play hockey and share a passion that I love,” said Stafford.
A passion that’s led to inclusion and a goal where everyone scores.
