Michigan FAR Flyers special hockey is dedicated to the development and enjoyment of hockey for developmentally or physically challenged athletes. The Michigan FAR Flyers team is made up of players and volunteers from various counties in the southeast areas of Michigan.
The Michigan FAR Flyers team of special athletes is part of USA Hockey's American Special Hockey Association (ASHA) program and FAR Conservatory. Both are 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations.
We joined ASHA in 2002 and have participated at the Special Hockey International (SHI) Tournaments ever since.
We have sent two teams to the SHI eight out of the past 9 years and have also participated in the USA Hockey National Disabled Festival six out of the last nine years. In 2011 we sent one team to the Festival in Blaine, Minnesota and two teams to the SHI in Marlboro, MA.
This year we sent two teams to the February UCT Outdoor Winter Hockey Festival held in Toledo, Ohio and the March Special Hockey Tournament in Jamestown, New York. We weren't able to make the April 2012 USA Hockey National Disabled Festival in Dallas and the 2012 SHI Tournament in London, England.
But the two tournaments we did go to more than made up for those we didn't. Each of our teams got in a total of seven games. We are getting used to playing some of these teams and it is kind of cool seeing the guys talking to the various players they've gotten to know. I've even heard of trade rumors from time to time.
We are working on adding a third team to our squad. So if you know of any players looking for a hockey team, send them our way next September. And if they are just getting into the game, encourage them to work on their skating during the off season. Most rinks in the area have public skating.
Our team is part of the FAR Conservatory of Therapeutic and Performing Arts Ice Skating program, which has been encouraging special athletes in ice hockey and figure skating for over 26 years.
Our coaches and volunteers work closely with the athletes to keep both practice and competitive efforts running smoothly. We like to make it as fun as possible for the players. We schedule about 10 games during the season at other rinks and invite the same number of teams to play us at our home arena.
Most Saturdays we break the group into two squads for our weekly scrimmage games. We usually work on skills the first 30 minutes than use the remaining hour for the scrimmage game. We keep a game-like atmosphere by keeping score, using coaches as refs, and keep the teams balanced by matching lines.
Our coed Varsity team practices and plays every Saturday during our season September through March at the John Lindell Ice Arena in Royal Oak at 3:15-4:35 pm. The rink is located at 1403 Lexington Boulevard, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073. All levels of skill are accepted and encouraged.
We are having our eighth annual fundraiser Sunday June 10 for the Michigan FAR Flyers Special Hockey Team which will help cover the cost to prepare for and play in the National and International Tournaments.
If you would like to join our team (see FAR section below), play our team, or have any other questions, feel free to call or e-mail me.
Ben Niemiec
ASHA Mid America District Representative
Head Coach
Michigan FAR Flyers
248-890-7332
benniemiec@aol.com
This is the web site of the Non-Profit that Michigan FAR Flyers are part of.
See the page below to retrieve the required forms to sign up for the team.
Direct Links to Required FormsFAR Conservatory of Therapeutic and Performing Arts
1669 West Maple Road
Birmingham, MI 48009
Mike Hickey is President of American Special Hockey Association (ASHA). His email address is: mhickey@specialhockey.org
The Michigan FAR Flyers joined ASHA in 2002 as one of their USA Hockey Disabled teams. We helped host the first ever USA Hockey National Disabled Festival in 2005. It was held in Fraser, Michigan. We have attended most of them since then.
UCT Outdoor Winter Hockey Festival at the Ottawa Park in Toledo, Ohio - February 11-12, 2012. It was a three game round robin tournament. There were teams from Columbus CCYHA, Steel City Icebergs, Washington Ice Dogs, MORC Stars, Ann Arbor Rockets and Michigan FAR Flyers.
Special Hockey Tournament at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, New York - March 23-24, 2012. Jamestown is 324 miles from Detroit via US highways, south of Buffalo and east of the PA/NY border. This tournament include 18 special hockey teams from Canada and USA. Games were played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each team got in 4 games. There are already plans being made for another tournament there on November 9-11, 2012.
The 2012 USA Hockey National Disabled Festival was held at the Star Center Ice Arena in Dallas, TX. The dates were April 13-15, 2012.
The 2013 USA Hockey National Disabled Festival will be held at the West Chester Arena in West Chester, PA. It is near Philly and the same place that hosted the 2006 one. The dates are March 21-24, 2013.
The 2014 USA Hockey National Disabled Festival will be held in FL or in Madison, WI.
This is the Special Hockey International (SHI) Web Site. It has information about the special hockey teams that are members from Canada, USA and England.
The Michigan FAR Flyers joined USA Hockey and SHI in 2002. We attended our first SHI Tournament in 2003 at Whitby, Ontario. We have traveled to a SHI tournament each year since. At the 2010 SHI Tournament in Orangeville, Ontario our two teams came back with a combined record of 5-1 against six Canadian teams.
The 2011 SHI Tournament host team was the Boston Bear Cubs of Marlborough, Massachusetts. The dates were April 28-30, 2011. The Boston Bear Cups' web site is www.masspecialhockey.org.
Each team played four games and went 1-3. Our two teams came back with a combined record of 2-6. All were good games against evenly matched opponents.
The 2012 SHI Tournament host team was the Werewolves of London of London, England UK. The dates were April 15-19, 2012. The Werewolves' web site is www.werewolvesoflondon.org.uk.
The 2013 SHI Tournament host team will be the Kitchener Ice Pirates of Kitchener, Ontario. The dates are March 12-16, 2013 (Wed-Sat). No games on Sunday. The Kitchener SHI Host web site is www.shikitchener2013.ca.
The 2014 SHI Tournament will be hosted by MAHA and individual members from the three Michigan special teams (Flyers, Stars and Rockets).
The 2015 SHI Tournament host team will be the Capital City Condors team in Ottawa, ON CA
The Capital City Condors web site is www.capitalcitycondors.org.
Below are the web sites for USA Hockey and Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA). Carol Schwanger is the Director of Disabled Sports for Michigan Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey. Her Email address is: greatjaws1225@yahoo.com
All Michigan FAR Flyers players and coaches will be signed up for USA Hockey in the fall after they are officially registered with the team.
www.maha.orgPicture gallery by our team's photographer Mark Wiedelman.
Below is the contact information of the other two special hockey teams here in Michigan - The MORC Stars and the Ann Arbor Rockets.
The MORC Stars' website is: www.morcstars.com.
The Ann Arbor team - Ann Arbor Rockets just started skating out of the Veterans Ice Arena in Ann Arbor on Sundays from 10:40 - 11:40 AM. Their Manager is Jacqueline Kaufman (jaqk@med.umich.edu/734-222-1728) and Head Coach is Kim Gearns (kimgearns@comcast.net).
The Ann Arbor Rockets' website is: www.a2rocketshockey.org.
The Rockets started skating at Veterans Arena in Ann Arbor on Sunday December 8, 2010. They had 15 special hockey players on opening day.
There are two other teams starting up in Michigan in the near future in Grand Rapids and East Lansing. Their information will be added to this site when it is available.
Below is the web site for Special Olympics Michigan.
www.somi.orgFor additional information concerning Special Olympics in Oakland County contact Area Director Karen Kelpin at 248-370-0922.
Proceeds from this event benefitted Special Olympics Michigan.
Below is the web site for the Great Michigan Race.
www.greatmichiganrace.comThe Michigan FAR Flyers' game was the warm-up for the big event of the evening when the Detroit Red Wings Alumni team took on a hard working hockey team.
A number of the Red Wings Alumni players skated with our team during the first intermission. See the picture galleries below from this event.
Picture gallery by our team's photographer Mark Wiedelman.
Below is the web site for Laptop Publishing. The link below will take you to a site that allows you to watch a DVD created by my brother Karl about our team's search for a game. It's really a good look at the history and future of Special Needs Hockey in the USA and Canada. He followed our team to a number of events over an eight year period and helps capture the efforts and enjoyment of players, parents, volunteers, coaches, and friends participating in one of the best sports in the world - Ice Hockey.
www.laptoppublishing.com