Impairment Information |
Type of Impairment |
Limb deficiency |
Origin of Impairment |
Acquired |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Clayton, NY, USA |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
English |
Higher education |
Political Science - Texas Christian University: Fort Worth, TX, USA |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began playing Para ice hockey in 2010 in San Antonio, TX, United States of America. |
Why this sport? |
He first became aware of the sport during his rehabilitation. "During the two months I was in hospital I lost a lot of strength and was looking for things to do to get back in the swing of things. I was doing some handcycling and some wheelchair basketball. My physical therapist was big into hockey so he asked me if I wanted to try sled hockey. My initial thought was, 'What on earth is sled hockey?', I had never heard of it. I got on the ice and the first couple of times were rough because I just kept falling over, but once I started picking it up I loved it." |
Club / Team |
Buffalo Sabres: United States |
Name of coach |
David Hoff [national]. USA |
Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Forward |
General Interest |
Hobbies |
Weightlifting, cycling, golf, listening to music, travelling, boating. (teamusa.org, 2017; hfotusa.org, 23 Jun 2018) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning a gold medal at the 2015 World Championships in Buffalo, NY, United States of America, and competing at the Paralympic Winter Games for the first time in 2018 in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 29 Mar 2018) |
Most influential person in career |
US Para ice hockey player Lonnie Hannah. (Athlete, 29 Mar 2018) |
Hero / Idol |
US baseball player Derek Jeter. (Athlete, 29 Mar 2018) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Never quit. Take nothing for granted." (Twitter profile, 09 Mar 2017) |
Ambitions |
To pursue a career in teaching. (hfotusa.org, 23 Jun 2018) |
Impairment |
In 2010 he was serving with the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan when the vehicle he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device [IED]. His injuries led to the amputation of both his legs below the knee. (usahockey.com, 15 Dec 2014; army.mil, 12 Feb 2013) |
Other information |
VOLUNTARY WORK
In 2016 he travelled with a non-profit volunteer organisation to Morocco to help teach school children. (hfotusa.org, 11 Sep 2017; watertowndailytimes.com, 10 Aug 2017) |
