The Family Behind The Minnesota Special Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Game day for the Cashin family is a rush of last-minute preparations.
Sam Cashin, 23, turns his attention to the competition.
"It's not about wins, it's about having fun," said Sam, a player with the Minnesota Special Hockey League.
Meanwhile, Sam's mom, Jane, the president of Minnesota Special Hockey, has her eyes on a much bigger goal.
"If we can provide an opportunity that anybody who wants to play hockey, and can't play typical hockey for whatever reason, we'll be there for them," she said.
The league is based on the idea that a disability shouldn't keep athletes from the ice.
"That's our goal," Jane said. "It's to be there for these non-typical hockey players."
For her, the cause is personal. Her son's seizures used to keep him from the game.
"I wanted to play hockey, but couldn't play hockey because of my epilepsy," Sam said.
Nine years ago, the league formed and hockey was no longer a forbidden hobby.
"He was the first player to sign up and has been there ever since," Jane said.
In his time with the league, Jane has watched the transformation that comes with following a passion.
"For him, to have a place to be social and have these friends and talk about his hockey, that's important," she said. "His sports are his social life and hockey has been a big part of that."
It's why Jane is so encouraging of the new players just joining a team. This season, the league has 174 players.
"I would hope we have another 100 players," Jane said when asked about the future of the league.
This league isn't focused on skill or ability, rather the belief that everyone should play the game in the state of hockey.
There's no age limit for joining the league and teams are spread out around the state.
The league is always looking for volunteers to help some of the less experienced players. For more information on how to help go to www.mnspecialhockey.org.
