Blind Hockey

All of the players are legally blind, and besides minor differences (like using a metal puck filled with ball bearings that can be tracked by sound or making the net one foot shorter to accommodate the fully blind goalies), play hockey that can be hard to distinguish from the sighted version of the sport. 

Originally starting in Canada in the 70’s, blind hockey is still a relatively new sport to the US with the first US-based team being founded in 2014 and the first US national team being created in 2018. Because of its rapid expansion over the past 10 years throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, organizations hope blind hockey will soon become an official Paralympic sport.

17-year-old Brothers Nate and Aiden McCown at a Washington Blind Hockey Club practice. They are among the higher vision players on the team and also play on a sighted club hockey team.

Blind hockey uses a large metal puck filled with ball bearings that makes noise as it moves, allowing players to track the play by sound.

Team USA arrives at the rink for game 1 of the 2024 International Blind Hockey Series vs. Team Canada in St. Louis.

USA Blind Hockey Goalie Andrew Mead-Colegrove. Goalies are generally the lowest vision players on the team and are required to wear blindfolds to ensure they are playing with zero vision. The puck doesn't make noise when it's in the air, so the nets have been made one foot shorter.

Action from Team USA vs. Team Canada during 2024 International Blind Hockey Series in St. Louis.

Team Canada before game 1 of the 2024 International Blind Hockey Series in St. Louis.

Team USA vs. Team Canada during a three-day 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Toronto.

Since the DC metro doesn't run early enough to make it to their 6am practices, Charlie Mitchell of the Washington Blind Hockey Club often has to take Ubers to the rink, which can be up to $60 per practice.

A member of the New York Metro Blind Hockey Club.

Refs shake the puck to alert players where the face-off is. (click symbol in bottom right for audio)

Nate McCown uses the zoom function on his phone's camera to watch warmups at a New Jersey Devils Game.

A volunteer helps a goalie to his net during a blind hockey demo for the New Jersey Devils fan after a game.

Kevin Brown, a member of the USA Blind Hockey Team and the Washington Blind Hockey Club, at home playing with his guide dog Weaver.

Team USA goalie coach and Tennessee School for the Blind teacher, Bill Fleckenstein, demonstrates glove position adjustments to goalie Doug Goist between periods at the 2023 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament in Toronto.

Team USA vs Team Canada at the 2023 Canadian Blind Hockey Tournament in Toronto. (click symbol in bottom right for audio)

Nate and Aiden McCowen practice their stickhandling at home. Aiden hopes to play for Team USA once he's 18.

USA Blind Hockey Team member Dave Klenk fist bumps fans who came to watch Team USA Vs. Team Canada. Since many forms of visual impairment include light sensitivity, some players wear sunglasses or tinted visors.

Kevin Brown at the end of a Washington Blind Hockey Club practice.