Ottawa Special Hockey Stars

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Stars & their families! Stay safe!Happy Thanksgiving to all the Stars & their families! Stay safe!

To Our Sponsors: With the world so troubled, confusing, and uncertain going forward for all of us, it has allowed me to reflect back on how all of us have come together over the years. Most, if not all of you have been on my journey with Special Needs Hockey, believing and trusting our vision in Paying things Forward... My role, with the support of my family, amazing volunteers and the many players we have mentored along the way, has changed many lives, while all enjoying the great game of hockey. Truthfully, the hockey is secondary. It has provided an opportunity to some amazing athletes to build self-confidence, make new friendships, and like many of their siblings, be proud and excited about playing on a team. None of this success happens without each of you. Without fail, your continued support, kindness and generosity, our players would not have lived their dream of playing hockey, with the look and feel like their NHL idols. You have impacted over 150 kids over the years we have partnered together. Our program has an uncertain future to say the least. As always, all decisions for our program are based on safety, following medical and science direction. Covid 19 has had a major impact on everyone. I wanted to take this time to let you know that without your years of support, the program would not have been recognized as one of excellence in 2018. You are society’s champions. Sadly, all our team events that were planned for this year were cancelled, including our golf tournament, which has always been a good way to connect with many of you. It is not the year of true celebration, and will be one to remember for all the wrong reasons. Wanting to acknowledge the season and success our players had, a celebration on wheels, over a two day period, we attended each players homes individually, brought happiness and smiles as their trophies and gifts were presented to each, keeping physical distancing. We felt this was important to remind our players and families, they have not been forgotten. I also felt it was important at this time as well to let you know, you also have not been forgotten. Your community support over the many years of our shared journey, makes each of you stars and community leaders. Your kindness, encouragement and understanding in relation to special needs individuals, brings promise of improved inclusion and acceptance, but still a work in progress. Stay safe, healthy and well as you all navigate personally and professionally in this world health crisis. I look forward to when we can all live normally again without fear, and that hockey, when it is safe to resume, brings us all back together. I will be forever grateful for your trust and friendship, and many years of support. Thank you from OSHS. Respectfully, Jeff Kelly (Ottawa Special Hockey Stars)

Our home arena's renovation progress.

Where's Coach Jeff?!