'It’s like family': London hockey league for individuals with learning needs still going strong
CTV
Since 1968, the George Bray Hockey League has provided a safe space for individuals with special learning needs to play hockey.
Since 1968, the George Bray Hockey League has provided a safe space for individuals with special learning needs to play hockey.
“Honestly, it's like family,” said Branden Nicholson, 25, a player in the senior division with a dual diagnosis of ADHD and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
“I've been doing this since I was about 10 years old.”
The league is a place where families like the Miller family can feel a sense of belonging.
“I witnessed an eight-year-old boy get invited to his very first birthday party,” said Jessica Ashton (Miller).
“I've seen parents crying, watching their kids play because we finally belong and they fit in, and they're being accepted. As dramatic as this may seem to a lot of people, as a special needs parent, it's pretty much the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.”
