USA Hockey Foundation

Lynne Harbison wasn’t quite sure what to expect when her son, Mitchell, joined the Golden Eagles, a special hockey program based in Colorado. But she had no idea it would become this important and influential in his growth and development.

“The athletic experience my son has gained is much more than what anyone could ever see or imagine. He never fit in anywhere in or out of school,” Lynne said.

Special hockey is the first and only team sport in which Mitchell has ever participated.

“Besides the physical skills he has accomplished, the team play and socialization had been more than we could have ever expected from joining this organization,” added Lynne, whose husband, Phil, is the team’s head coach. “As an adult player, he does not want to miss any chance to play. It is the first sport he has succeeded at and been affirmed in by all the coaches. He is about to turn 20 so that is a big accomplishment.”

Golden Program

Colorado Special Hockey’s mission is to offer amateur hockey for kids (ages 5 and up) and young adults with Down syndrome, Autism, ADD/HD or other development disorders that would prevent them from participating in any other organized program. Colorado Special Hockey will provide equipment and teach them to skate.

The USA Hockey Foundation awarded Colorado Special Hockey with a $2,000 Grow Special Hockey Grant last season. The purpose of the grant is to help grow the program with the purchasing of equipment through a partnership with Total Hockey.

“It is incredible to watch our program grow every year. It must mean we are doing something right,” Lynne said. “It’s a joy to be able to share our passion of hockey with so many that would never have this opportunity.”

These grants can help organizations offset the cost of joining and playing on a team. Without The USA Hockey Foundation’s donors, this grant wouldn’t be possible. The USA Hockey Foundation accepts applications for the Grow Special Hockey Grant Program from all new and existing special hockey programs. Visit this page for more information.

Passing the Puck

Rich and Kari Passmore have three boys, 8, 12, and 14, who are in their fourth year playing for the Golden Eagles. They were invited by another family whose children were mutual classmates. The Golden Eagles practice every Sunday night from October to April and try attending one tournament every year.

Rich is now the team’s parent representative and went on to create the team’s website (www.goldeneagleshockey.org). Kari has stepped up as well.

“My wife, Kari, is our lead fundraiser and has spent many successful hours soliciting local area businesses for donations that we, in-turn, organize and combine into gift baskets that we put up for auction,” Rich Passmore said.

Life Lessons

The program doesn’t just give kids the chance to play, learn and love hockey, just like the rest of us growing up; it’s so much more.

“It may be learning to be independent or taking care of their own gear and getting dressed on their own, to being able to sit in class because they got some physical exercise,” Lynne added.

“Sometimes parents use hockey to keep a student motivated in school: ‘You can't go to hockey if you can't behave in school,’ or, ‘What would coach say about that behavior?’ Our players will work so hard in hockey – much harder than in physical therapy – because they have that motivation.”

And like most hockey players, being part of a team and developing those friendships and memories – those are the things that last forever.

“The program allows him to be part of a team,” Lynne said. “With Autism, this wouldn't be possible without the Golden Eagles.”