For these goaltenders,
stopping the puck is only half the battle.
Imagine... standing in a goal crease, 35lbs of bulky pads weighing you down, making it even more difficult to stay upright on the 1/8 inch wide blades strapped to your feet. Every muscle in your body is taut in anticipation of that frozen mass of vulcanized rubber, hurtling at you at 100mph. Imagine the concentration it takes not only to NOT duck, dive or drop down out of the way of this speeding projectile but to purposely confront it, perhaps even crashing into it with part of your anatomy. You do this not because you are a masochist or have a death wish but because the 5 other players on the ice, the 15 or so members of your team on the bench and 20,000 plus fans in the arena are counting on you to stop that puck from going in the net. It’s your job – you are a hockey goalie. But not just any hockey goalie…
Now imagine performing this crazy feat, this thankless task, while also worrying if your muscles will fail you because the interferon beta injections you have been undergoing 3 times a week aren’t working…or wondering if you’ll fall to the ice in a violent seizure because your anti-convulsive medication is wearing off…or fearing that your prosthetic will be jarred loose by someone crashing the net. This IS life for some amazing individuals, who not only are dedicated athletes but also wage the daily war against a debilitating disease or battle the difficulties of a prosthetic limb.
Chanda Gunn is a bronze medal winner and goaltender for the 2006 US Olympic Women's Hockey Team. She lives each day with a positive attitude and the personal belief that "there is no reason why a person with epilepsy can't play sports or pursue their dreams." |
Joanne Lukasik started playing hockey as a young girl growing up in Ontario, Canada. A farming accident at age 16 caused the amputation of both legs but this kept her off the ice only long enough to get used to her new prosthetic limbs. She was back skating in less than a year and was back in goal shortly thereafter. Joanne has been playing competitive hockey for over 30 years and is currently a starting netminder in the challenging Michigan Senior Women's Hockey League. |
Corey Marko is a 2006 graduate of Sweet Home High School in Amherst, NY and played in goal for the Sweet Home Panthers during all 4 years. As a Peewee level goaltender, Corey also contributed to the Grand Niagara Cataracts state championship win in 2001. Born with a condition that does not allow the fibulas to grow, he has worn below the knee prosthetic limbs on both legs since age 1 and has been playing hockey since age eight. |
Josh Piercy, a Nova Scotia native, is currently instructing young goaltenders in his hometown. He was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes at age 12, yet despite suffering from this serious disease, Josh has continued to advance his career as a goaltender. Josh hopes to earn a spot on a U.S. college hockey team’s roster in the coming year. |
Joe Schuck is a 2005 graduate of Archbishop Wood High School in suburban Philadelphia, where he was the starting netminder for the school’s varsity hockey team. Joe has been hearing impaired since birth but does not let this physical challenge deter him from pursuing his dream of playing collegiate hockey. |
Jordan Sigalet was Bowling Green University's first goaltender ever to be named Captain. He was Boston's seventh-round pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and is currently a goaltender for the AHL team the Providence Bruins. In 2004 Jordan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and, even though he lacks full feeling in his hands, continues to play the position at a high level. |
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