NY Metro Blind Hockey helping make sport more accessible to the visually impaired community
SYOSSET, Long Island (WABC) -- A hockey puck can come flying at a player faster than the speed of a car, so for visually impaired athletes, you might not think the sport is safe.
However, some changes to the puck are making hockey accessible to more people, including a kid from Long Island who is visually impaired.
"It just seemed like he really shined in hockey and I was like wondering if I could do that, but it was a lot of contact in that sport," Liam Gausman said.
Gausman has always looked up to his big brother Kieran, who plays on a travel hockey team. It's a sport Liam Gausman never thought he would be able to play.
"Liam was born with congenital nystagmus and esotropia," said Liam's mom, Jeanne Gausman. "He has been visually impaired his entire life. He never knew the difference"
"He never could take any contact, like any type of contact sport, so he felt limited," said Liam's brother, Kieran Gausman.
But everything changed a few years ago when Liam and his parents found NY Metro Blind Hockey.
"I felt like it was a new beginning for me and I felt like it brought me more opportunities," Liam Gausman said.
With the support of his family and the team, he now has opportunities to play this non-contact sport, with one of the main differences being the puck.
"The blind hockey puck is considerably larger than a standard puck," said Monique Koehler, the general manager of NY Metro Blind Hockey. "It's also metal, and inside it has ball bearings."
Because of the ball bearings and the metal casing, it makes noise.
The program, which is a not-for-profit, relies on fundraising and donations to help provide these opportunities which also involve travel.
For Liam Gausman, he recently had the chance to play with kids his own age in Canada, and returned home with a medal.
"It's really one of the few opportunities that they have to be competitive in a sport that most of us take for granted," Koehler said.
"Competitively, I thought it was better that there were more people around my age," Liam Gausman said. "I felt like I could connect better with them."
"They had such a great time and I think he even felt, 'wow, if I can do this anyone can.' That was such a big turning point for him," Liam's mom said.
"I just like love that it gives me this passion, and hope more people who have eye problems or are blind can come out, and it's fun and very welcoming," Liam Gausman said.
As for Liam's older brother, who inspired him, Kieran now volunteers with the NY Metro Blind hockey team, and looks up to his younger brother.
"He's always there as an inspiration for me. I always thought I was the role model, but as it goes, I feel like it's the opposite way around," Kieran Gausman said.
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