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About Our
Brick Stars Challenger Program:
The program
started in 2009 with 8 original skaters and remarkably grew to
over 25 by the end of its First Season in 2010. Thus, making it
the fastest growing special needs program in the State of New
Jersey. The program is for players between age five and
twenty-one who have a developmental disability such as Down
syndrome, Autism or any other learning delays that prevent them
from participating in any other existing organization. It is
designed to meet the needs of the developmentally challenged
athlete.
The Brick
Stars currently have 20 developmentally disabled players ranging
in age from 5 to adult, with a range of skating ability from
learn to skate to partaking in the game of “Special Hockey”
The Brick
Stars Season for 2010-2011 practice every Sunday 9:00 to 10:00
am at the Ocean Ice Palace, Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, New
Jersey from September 29, 2010 thru February 27, 2011.
Alex J.
DePalma is the Brick Stars Challenger Program Director, USA
Hockey Atlantic District A.C.E. Director and NJYHL Coach in
Chief, with over 25 years coaching experience at all age levels.
All Brick
Hockey Coaches are USA Hockey Certified and screened. The
program is strictly run by volunteers of local coaches, current
and past Brick Hockey Club Members, local travel organizations
and local high school players. Assistance is also provided by
professional certified physical and occupational therapists.
The Brick
Stars Challenger Program is part of The Brick Hockey Club’s
Organization which is a 501c(3) organization consisting of very
dedicated volunteer members and rely on annual fundraising
efforts to operate
BRICK STARS
EVENTS:
On January
31, 2010, celebrating Hockey Weekend Across America, The Brick
Stars participated in a special Hockey game with the NJ DARE
DEVILS at the OCEAN ICE PALACE to help promote “EVERYBODY
SKATES” a group of disabled hockey players making history by
visiting all 54 ice rinks in New Jersey in 54 hours. Their
mission to convince local rinks to allocate one hour of ice time
per week to Disabled Hockey. See
www.everybodyskates.com
Jim Dowd’s “Shoot for the Stars Foundation” Charity Hockey Game
On August 8,
2010, The Brick Stars participated in the Jim Dowd’s “Shoot for
the Stars Foundation” Charity Hockey Game at the Red Bank
Armory.
Jim Dowd, (a
former Brick Hockey Club Member and 1995 NJ Devils Stanley Cup
Championship) presented the Brick Stars with a check from the
proceeds of the event to support the
program. A special guest appearance and helpful participant
was James Van Riemsdyk #21(First Round, #2 overall draft pick)
of the Philadelphia Flyers, who is also a former Brick Hockey
Club Member. Please see below link to the Philadelphia Flyers
under “News Archives” Summer stories 9/8/2010 “JVR GETS
STRONGER”
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/newsindex.htm
BRICK STARS
CONTACT INFO:
Ice Hockey
has proven to assist the developmental challenged athlete by
emphasizing on their strength, endurance, focus, eye hand
coordination, social skills, motivation and willingness to reach
their fullest potential on and off the ice.
Interested in
more information or scheduling a “Special Hockey Game” contact
Director Alex J. DePalma at
alexdepalma@comcast.net
or Dina Crepaldi, Brick Stars Manager at
Dinac01@aol.com
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