The Locomotives are about more than just hockey. It’s about using the game to open up new doors for individuals who deal with disabilities ranging from Autism to Down syndrome. “This is a program where we accept the kids for who they are, not for who somebody thinks they should be,” says Hermann, who works as an off-ice official at Blues home games. “They’ve been discriminated against most of their lives. We don’t see disability, we see what they can do rather than what they can’t do.”
Founded in 1993 by Tony Sansone, Jr., who modeled the Locomotives after a program in Toronto, the organization has enjoyed support from the St. Louis hockey community dating back to when Blues tough guy Kelly Chase donated the profits from his hockey schools to pay for ice time at the Blues practice facility.
In the early years the Locomotives had to make a five-hour drive to the Windy City to play the Chicago Tomahawks or head west to take on the Colorado Golden Eagles. But today, thanks to the efforts of groups like USA Hockey and the American Special Hockey Association, special hockey’s ranks have grown to 50 clubs in 30 states made up of close to 2,000 athletes…(read more)
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