Mat-Su hockey players, students with special needs enjoy time on the ice

“It gives the students an opportunity to participate with their peers. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the players to invite these kids into their world. It’s something they haven’t experienced before,” says Mary McCall, who works at Palmer High School.

The idea was born several years ago when Steve MacSwain and Theresa Savel started the event, but after they each moved from the Mat-Su Valley, Christine Greco picked up the mantel to carry on the cherished community tradition.

“Years ago, I had the honor of taking photos and videos at the first annual. Then after 2020 happened, we had to put the event on hold for a few years,” she says, adding “In 2023, I was able to gather wonderful volunteers, connect with awesome teachers and round up our amazing High School Hockey players to bring back this spectacular Unified Hockey Game.”

Hockey players paired up with students in the adaptive game, some simply in chairs that players pushed around the rink, while others were in wheelchairs or other adaptive equipment, wielding their hockey sticks and getting the chance to score goals, like Westley, who proudly boasted that he scored four goals while helping with a few others.

“I think we all come out here just to have fun. It’s great to help these kids get out on the ice and have fun,” says sophomore Dylan Shaffer who is the goalie for the Houston High School hockey team.

It’s a sentiment his coach Alex Jordan shared.

“That’s what it’s all about really, just to see them have a great day on the ice and share the game we love with them. It’s a fun day.”

“I think this is all around a cool event. It’s really good for our special needs students and our regular education students,” says Dale Ewart, an assistant principal at Colony High School, whose own son has special needs and participated in the event the first year it was held. “It’s obvious they all get so much out of it when we see the smiles and enjoyment on everyone’s faces.”

But this event is also for the families, cheering just as loudly as if it were a championship game.

“This is awesome! I’m so proud of them all coming out here and doing this,” said Steve Elliot, watching as his grandson Memphis Elliot of the Houston Hawks, took to the ice, beaming with pride as he took photos and filmed the games.

“It is one of my favorite community events to put on each year. It’s such an awesome event is for the community and all the participants,” said Greco.

She says that there were 120 participants this year that came from Palmer, Wasilla, Colony, Houston, Mat-Su Career and Technical  and Redington High Schools.

“Every student and hockey player had a blast! I have already received messages from all the students saying what a good time they had and how they loved their t-shirts. The hockey players love getting to share their love of the game with students from their local high schools. I am not sure who has more fun. The smiles can be seen all around the rink.”

Of course, an event like this can’t happen without generous sponsors. This year’s sponsors were Obie’s Adobe, Glacier Surgical Associates, Palmer Lions Club, Chepo’s Mexican Restaurant and Sudzy Salmon.

Everyone that played received a T-shirt on pizza in between games, which were also donated by the local community.

“We also had some pizzas donated by Pizza Ria Delphi. Lazy Moose created the very cool Rockin’ Hockey T-Shirts that you will now see all around the community.”

But for Greco, the hard work is worth it to see the look on everyone’s faces.

“Hearing the cheers and the excited squeals from all the participants makes it all worth it!”