Back TO THE ICE, BACK TO MYSELF: june 26, 2026

It has been 13 years since my last game as an ice hockey goalie. 13 years since I was on the ice. And now….those years are bridged with NOW…a return to skating, a return to playing hockey, and a return to finding myself through the game I love.

I’ve been an above knee amputee since I was 11 months old. I grew up on a prosthesis, taking my first ever steps with one biological left foot and one fiberglass right foot.

Since then, I have refused to be anything close to “disabled”…yet, that is how I am classified by governmental and official medical records.

Inadvertantly, I grew up learning how to live two lives. The duality of being able to pass for able bodied but not being able bodied enough was and still is a constant in my daily life.

Hockey was always an escape for me as I grew up. Yet, with getting together with friends and playing hockey immediately came with that duality of some friends knowing about my leg and others being uninformed…thus the burden of proving myself to the able bodied community was a responsiblity built into any athletic activity I pursued.

Somehow, In my late 20s, I became proficient enough at skating, learning hockey strategy, stopping pucks, and making saves to win myself a place in net for the Fairfield Fire Department Hockey team. With them I played my best hockey ever. Across the seasons I played for them, I found a true ability on the ice for myself unlike I’ve ever had since playing hockey from age 11.

I took years off away from playing to keep injury free as my career as a barber began. I couldn’t risk breaking my hands or straining muscles while in hair school. Somehow that small break away from hockey turned into 13 years.

Until now…..as of June 2026, I took my new skates to the ice and I am about to reawaken the identity within me of hockey goalie.

Once I am game ready, I’ll reclaim my place in net with a whole new crew of good friends who also seek satisfaction on making their ice bound needs fulfilled.

Follow the journey here as I refocus on my position on the rink.