Shayne blocks all obstacles...shoots...and scores!

When Variety Board Member Cathy Dunkin and her teammates from the St. Louis Edge women’s hockey team showed up at Variety Adventure Camp with hockey sticks and pucks, Shayne knew just what to do. He’s practically a pro. He helped demonstrate to fellow campers the proper way to hold a stick and pass the puck.

It was easily his favorite day of camp. The only downside? Shayne was bummed he didn’t take his own gear with him. At the end of the day, the 14-year-old told his mom, Lisa, “I was really good, Mom. I was tough, I just needed all my equipment!”

Shayne, who also receives hearing aids from Variety, is a sports fanatic. Now, I realize that’s not unusual for a teenage boy, but this sports fan has had to find unique ways to feed his passion.

“He wants to try all the sports he can,” said Shayne’s mom, Lisa. With mild cerebral palsy, hearing/speech/language impairments and numerous other medical issues, though, Shayne has only so many options on the St. Louis sporting scene.

He has played Challenger Baseball, takes Tae Kwon Do and is on a special soccer team. But his favorite sport is hockey. He has always followed the St. Louis Blues, and he wanted to play so badly.

After lots of research and phone calls, Lisa found the St. Louis Gateway Locomotives, a team for children and adults with disabilities. “It’s for anyone not able to participate on a regular hockey team,” she said.

When the team was formed back in the 1990s, it was the only team of its kind in the country. The idea came from a similar team in Toronto, Canada. Today, the Locomotives are part of Special Hockey International, as well as the American Special Hockey Association. The Association consists of 80 clubs with close to 1,000 athletes.

Lisa describes the Locomotives’ coaching and training staff simply as “good people.” She said, “They just really want the kids to have fun. It’s a very positive program that gives kids a chance to play sports.”

Shayne practices with the Locomotives every Sunday at the St. Louis Mills rink – the very ice where T.J. Oshie and the rest of the Blues players practice. They play in a Special Hockey International tournament each year, and in the meantime accept invitations to compete against typical hockey teams in local leagues.

Lisa said she is in awe of Shayne and his team. “My son has cerebral palsy in his legs. To get out there and do that – wow!”

When Shayne started with the Locomotives a few years ago, he knew hockey was his passion, but he wasn’t a strong skater. Now, he looks forward to showing off his moves each summer at Variety Adventure Camp.