Hockey for All
At 16-years-old, J.J. O’Connor was a busy teenager, going to school and enjoying playing on the Chicago Patriots junior level hockey team. Never could he imagine that in less than a year, an accident on the ice would change his life forever.
An avid hockey player since age 5, J.J. loved the sport. In his first game of the 1995 season, he was playing center for the McFetridge Patriots when the puck was dumped in the corner for a line change. “I came off the bench and headed to the attacking zone,” J.J. recalled. “I was the first forward in and chased after the puck lying on the boards with the defensemen from the other team. As we approached the puck, the defensemen and I bumped into each other and both fell into the boards. He fell in feet first and I fell headfirst.”
The impact broke the cervical portion of J.J.’s spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. The once active teen was now learning how to live his life as a quadriplegic.
Progressing Through Positivity
J.J.’s friend, Jim Smith, regularly visited J.J. in the hospital after the accident. The tragedy strengthened their friendship and the two became inseparable. They became college roommates, even declaring the same major, which provided J.J. some needed assistance in traveling between classes.
Although many things changed for J.J. after the accident, his love for hockey did not. There was an obvious gap in hockey programming for disabled youth in the Chicagoland area, so together, J.J. and Jim set out to create a sled hockey program for individuals with disabilities. Sled hockey (known as sledge hockey in other countries) is primarily played the same as typical ice hockey, except that the equipment players use caters to their disabilities.
“It’s not about the game, but the value of a person’s life,” Jim explained. “There are not many opportunities to improve your quality of life when you are battling a disability.”
In 2002, the Hornets Sled Hockey Team began, named in recognition of a former area club. The team consisted of five players who practiced out of the Bensenville Ice Arena. The program quickly grew, topping out at 20 participants ranging in ages. Jim noticed as the number of players grew, so did the friendships and confidence within the players, as well as the need to further expand the program.
New Ice
The Hornets secured their program’s new home at the Mount Prospect Ice Arena in 2016, which is now the centerpiece of the Nicholas Sportsplex. Not only was the new facility impressive, it also came along with multiple benefits to the team—most notably a partnership with its owner, the late Nick Papanicholas Sr.
Nick Sr. felt so passionately about the special opportunities provided to children through the Hornets that he became an incredibly generous and caring benefactor of the team. He funded the venue rental and travel costs, donated jerseys and hockey gear, and even provided food and beverages. This allowed the Hornets to offer the program at no cost to participating families, which was both needed and appreciated.
“I am filled with joy when I see my daughter and the amount of confidence that she developed by being on the ice,” said Hornets hockey parent Paul Kuczek. “Jacqueline’s sense of belonging grew, as did her ability to be herself. And, that’s so important because you don’t know someone else’s silent journey.”
Jacqueline Kuczek is not only a player on the Hornets, but a part-time employee at the facility as well.
“I like that (sled hockey) is different and works the whole body,” she said. “With the sleds, it is all in the hips, abs, and weight transfer. Not only is it physically a sport, but it is also very mental deciding where your next move will be.”
Jacqueline explained that the Hornet players skate with assistance from a sled that straps on their legs. They have a hockey stick, but one that is much lighter than a traditional hockey stick. While some teammates have physical disabilities, others are deaf and require a specialized puck for sound, she said.
“I enjoy interacting with so many different individuals on the team,” Jacqueline said. Although medical issues have Jacqueline sidelined for a bit, she said she enjoys working with her coworkers at the Sportsplex and still feels close to the team.
Under the direction of Jim and J.J., the Nicholas Sportsplex’s Hornets team continues its efforts to help children and adults with disabilities to feel freedom outside of their disabilities. “The feeling of freedom on the ice for the players is more than just a game; it is an opportunity to break out of their wheelchairs or walkers,” Jim said.