Westman Volt Hockey, sparked by parents' love, allows players of all abilities to hit the rink

Zander Wallin sits down in his motorized cart, straps in and tests out the steering joystick to see how the chair moves.

He gives the cart a quick 360 spin, ready to race into the rink.

Zander, 15, is one of about 30 Brandon Westman Volt Hockey players. It'san adapted form of floor hockey that uses a special motorized wheelchair.

Players get out in the rink every Wednesday at Brandon's Keystone Centre.

Zander's parents were the spark that ignited the teambecause they wanted an inclusive sport for people with physical, intellectual and mobility disabilities in Brandon.

During games players use a specialized wheelchair known as a cart with a paddle on the front, which takes the place of a hockey stick. The chair is controlled by a joystick, can reach speeds up to 16 km/h and makes quick 360-degree turns.

Chad Wallin says there was a void for kids like his son Zander, who has cerebral palsy, to participate in sports. Zander's twin was very active in hockey and Zander would often be "relegated to the sidelines."

They wanted to create an inclusive way to hit the rink in the "hockey-driven community," Wallin said, leading to the launch of Westman Volt Hockey in fall 2022.

Wallin saidit's been an awesome experience watching his son take to the sport.

The carts are easy to operate all that's needed is your thumb and index finger to manoeuvre the joystick, Wallin said.

"That's the beauty of the sport. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a more inclusive sport."

Zander still remembers the first time he tried out one of the carts. Getting out on the rink to play was an electric feeling.

One of the best parts of Westman Volt Hockey has been getting to travel to compete against different teams, he said.

Last year, they won Division 2 goldat the first-ever North American cup in Toronto, put on by Variety Ontario.

"It was a blast. It was so much fun," said Zander, who hopes to do it again one day.

Westman Volt Hockey started at the grassroots level, "with zero dollars in the bank and just kind of an idea," Wallin said.

Through corporate and personal donations, they raised enough to buy some used equipment and grew the league to around 30 participants ageeight to 58.

A growing community

All the equipment including the nets, boards and carts comes from Sweden. Abrand-new chair costs around $8,500 after shipping and currency conversion, Wallin said.

He now gets the excitement of rushing between arenas to see his sons hit the rinks at the Keystone Centre.

"As a parent of a child with special needs, it's just awesome to see that your son has a place to fit in, a sport they can participate in and also relationships that they can build through the sport," Wallin said.

In additionto havingfun, volt teaches important social and life skills while letting players feel like valued members of a team, he said.

The little Brandon volt community also gives parents and players a valuable support system, Wallin said.

"It's just an outlet for anybody to come have fun. It's a great social environment. Everyone has made some great friendships and some bonds," Wallin said.

Hehopes the league grows right now the closest competitors are Calgary to the west and Thunder Bay to the east, although Winnipeg is also starting a team.

Inclusivity at heart

Glen Burgess and his son Cain, 10, drive to Brandon from Minnedosa, about 50 kilometres one way, almost every Wednesday for volt.

Cain was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer when he was eight. He has gone through treatments and had multiple surgeries, and he has lost a lot of leg mobility.

There are limited team opportunities for him, Burgess said, buthe can still play volt hockey.

Cain took to driving immediately and can drift the cart now, learningjust from practising each week.

He also went to Toronto and has shown his friends some of the videos from the tournament.

"It was fun," said Cain, whose favourite memory is winning and scoring some goals.

"It's important for him to be part of a team," Burgess said.

"My favourite part is just watching them being out there and having fun and kind of getting competitive with each other."

Westman Volt Hockey sparks joy for players of all ages, abilities

7 months ago

Duration 2:24

Zander Wallin, 15, is one of 30 players with Westman Volt Hockey an adapted form of floor hockey that uses a special motorized wheelchair, letting players of all abilities in Brandon, Man., hit the rink.