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http://www.miltoncanadianchampion.com/sports/article/243476
Planning on attending a North Halton Twisters BB peewees game this spring?
If so, you may want to commit these simple hand gestures to memory.
First, pass two open palms over each other — the sign for ‘nice.’ Then, put the index and middle fingers together from your right hand and place them between the thumb and index finger of your left (stretched open like a gun) — which indicates a ‘goal.’
Brittany Mallach’s teammates have become awfully familiar with that non-verbal praise, having flashed it well over 100 times in the past two years. Still, the 12-year-old Miltonian — the natural scorer of her Deaf hockey family — sometimes wishes she could hear the cheers she frequently creates.
“Yeah, I guess so,” the young centre said with a smile. “It’s all right though. I can see the cheering even if I can’t hear it.”
While acceptance and support of Deaf athletes in mainstream competitive sports like hockey has come a long way over the years, the numbers don’t always reflect that.
Brittany’s one of just two Deaf players in the Twisters organization right now (the other being from Georgetown), while 14-year-old brother Brandon is the lone player in Milton Minor Hockey’s rep system — toiling with the AA bantams.
And this in a community with a prominent Deaf school and a sizable Deaf population.
Asked what it’s like to be a Deaf player competing on a hearing team gives both Mallach youths reason to pause — which can no doubt be looked upon in a positive light. After all, the fact that they don’t often give this much thought suggests they’ve encountered more bridges than barriers.
“My teammates have learned some signs and communication with my coach is not a problem,” said Brandon, who as a centre/left winger was third in team scoring this season. “Mostly he (coach) gestures with me and when he needs to say more, when I’m taking too many penalties or something, he’ll write it down for me.”
“I don’t feel it is a challenge to be Deaf and play hockey,” added Brittany, who last year captained the Twisters’ B atoms, finishing with a whopping 94 goals, and is now a regular scorer with this season’s peewees. “I have been involved with team sports since I was four and have learned to manage whatever frustrations I have early on. My teammates and coaches have been very supportive.”
Those comments represent a stark contrast to what father Tim experienced growing up in Scarborough.
His 1970s playing days were riddled with obstacles, as Deaf players weren’t exactly embraced with open arms.
“Attitude was the biggest barrier I had when I was younger. Back then integration was not a common concept, and it took a lot of effort to help others open their minds up to a Deaf player,” he recalled. “Both my parents are Deaf and were strong supporters of anything I wanted to be a part of, but otherwise there was no help for me back then. I had to persevere on my own and break down the barriers for myself.”
Echoing those comments is another local hockey dad — Norm Brownell, whose son Matthew played AA rep for a few years in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s before a successful run with the provincial and national Deaf programs.
“Deaf players were pretty isolated back then. Even with Matthew and another Deaf player, Chad Broussard, being on the same team most years, it was still pretty hard,” said Brownell, a longtime supporter of both Deaf programs.
Intent on making integration smoother for his kids, Tim has spent the past few years serving as an assistant coach, first with Brandon’s teams and now with Brittany’s Twisters.
Lots of support
He’s quick to point out, though, that he hasn’t been the only communication link, especially since moving to Milton — where he sees Deaf athlete acceptance as significantly higher than in their native London — a couple of years ago to avoid the lengthy commute to E. C. Drury School for the Deaf.
“The Twisters go out of their way to ensure that funding is in place to provide interpreters for Brittany’s training and team events. Brandon is comfortable with his team and coach so he hasn’t requested an interpreter for training and games, but we will be putting in a request for one for the banquet and we expect a positive response.”
Of course this isn’t to suggest being Deaf doesn’t have its challenges in the world of sports — especially one as fast as hockey.
Brandon has never had a problem keeping up with the game’s pace, although his speed can serve as a detriment as much as an asset.
Explained Winterhawks head coach Alan Langley, “Picture it like this. Brandon is skating hard up the left wing. His linemate is 10 feet to his right and four feet behind him. Two forwards and one defenceman are moving toward Brandon as he has the puck. If he could hear his teammates calling him he would know and be able to fake left and make a drop pass to his right for a better scoring chance.
“What happens now is Brandon’s in an isolated world. All his visual focus is ahead of him and he has about a half-a-second to decide what to do, so he tries to skate through everyone.”
Absolute focus crucial
Brandon works hard to keep such scenarios to a minimum, stressing that Deaf players need to stay completely focused to be aware what’s going on around them at all times — in order to avoid everything from off-sides to continuing to skate after the whistle blows.
Those who’ve played with Brandon for a while will tell you that while Deaf, his game doesn’t exactly have the volume turned down. Resembling a young Bobby Clarke and often just as aggressive and fearless as the former Flyers captain, Brandon combines a strong two-way game with an in-your-face style that some may not expect from a Deaf player.
Said Tim, “He stands up for himself, all right. Both he and Brittany want to prove themselves and I’ve always encouraged that.”
Given the growing trend of trash talk in hockey, being Deaf may have one advantage.
“I can’t hear the other team razz me,” said Brandon, who like his sister plays sports year round — with soccer and three-on-three hockey keeping him busy through the spring and summer. “I can focus 100 per cent of my attention on my play and not what the other team is saying to me.”
An intricate part of a powerhouse Twisters take that’s now well into the playoffs, Brittany has aspirations of making the jump to AA hockey in the next year or two — something that seems within reach.
“Brittany’s a very hard working girl. I’m truly amazed at how she reacts on the ice on off-sides and all the whistles,” said coach Paul Cook. “She’s adapted really well.”
For all the headway in making competitive sports more accessible to Deaf people, Tim says there’s still plenty of kids who aren’t enjoying organized athletics like their hearing counterparts.
“Often I see hearing parents who seem to have reservations about putting their Deaf child into sports. I feel that if a child wishes to try out for a sport, whether it’s recreational or competitive, they should be encouraged to do so, regardless of their hearing status.”
Planning on attending a North Halton Twisters BB peewees game this spring?
If so, you may want to commit these simple hand gestures to memory.
First, pass two open palms over each other — the sign for ‘nice.’ Then, put the index and middle fingers together from your right hand and place them between the thumb and index finger of your left (stretched open like a gun) — which indicates a ‘goal.’
Brittany Mallach’s teammates have become awfully familiar with that non-verbal praise, having flashed it well over 100 times in the past two years. Still, the 12-year-old Miltonian — the natural scorer of her Deaf hockey family — sometimes wishes she could hear the cheers she frequently creates.
“Yeah, I guess so,” the young centre said with a smile. “It’s all right though. I can see the cheering even if I can’t hear it.”
While acceptance and support of Deaf athletes in mainstream competitive sports like hockey has come a long way over the years, the numbers don’t always reflect that.
Brittany’s one of just two Deaf players in the Twisters organization right now (the other being from Georgetown), while 14-year-old brother Brandon is the lone player in Milton Minor Hockey’s rep system — toiling with the AA bantams.
And this in a community with a prominent Deaf school and a sizable Deaf population.
Asked what it’s like to be a Deaf player competing on a hearing team gives both Mallach youths reason to pause — which can no doubt be looked upon in a positive light. After all, the fact that they don’t often give this much thought suggests they’ve encountered more bridges than barriers.
“My teammates have learned some signs and communication with my coach is not a problem,” said Brandon, who as a centre/left winger was third in team scoring this season. “Mostly he (coach) gestures with me and when he needs to say more, when I’m taking too many penalties or something, he’ll write it down for me.”
“I don’t feel it is a challenge to be Deaf and play hockey,” added Brittany, who last year captained the Twisters’ B atoms, finishing with a whopping 94 goals, and is now a regular scorer with this season’s peewees. “I have been involved with team sports since I was four and have learned to manage whatever frustrations I have early on. My teammates and coaches have been very supportive.”
Those comments represent a stark contrast to what father Tim experienced growing up in Scarborough.
His 1970s playing days were riddled with obstacles, as Deaf players weren’t exactly embraced with open arms.
“Attitude was the biggest barrier I had when I was younger. Back then integration was not a common concept, and it took a lot of effort to help others open their minds up to a Deaf player,” he recalled. “Both my parents are Deaf and were strong supporters of anything I wanted to be a part of, but otherwise there was no help for me back then. I had to persevere on my own and break down the barriers for myself.”
Echoing those comments is another local hockey dad — Norm Brownell, whose son Matthew played AA rep for a few years in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s before a successful run with the provincial and national Deaf programs.
“Deaf players were pretty isolated back then. Even with Matthew and another Deaf player, Chad Broussard, being on the same team most years, it was still pretty hard,” said Brownell, a longtime supporter of both Deaf programs.
Intent on making integration smoother for his kids, Tim has spent the past few years serving as an assistant coach, first with Brandon’s teams and now with Brittany’s Twisters.
Lots of support
He’s quick to point out, though, that he hasn’t been the only communication link, especially since moving to Milton — where he sees Deaf athlete acceptance as significantly higher than in their native London — a couple of years ago to avoid the lengthy commute to E. C. Drury School for the Deaf.
“The Twisters go out of their way to ensure that funding is in place to provide interpreters for Brittany’s training and team events. Brandon is comfortable with his team and coach so he hasn’t requested an interpreter for training and games, but we will be putting in a request for one for the banquet and we expect a positive response.”
Of course this isn’t to suggest being Deaf doesn’t have its challenges in the world of sports — especially one as fast as hockey.
Brandon has never had a problem keeping up with the game’s pace, although his speed can serve as a detriment as much as an asset.
Explained Winterhawks head coach Alan Langley, “Picture it like this. Brandon is skating hard up the left wing. His linemate is 10 feet to his right and four feet behind him. Two forwards and one defenceman are moving toward Brandon as he has the puck. If he could hear his teammates calling him he would know and be able to fake left and make a drop pass to his right for a better scoring chance.
“What happens now is Brandon’s in an isolated world. All his visual focus is ahead of him and he has about a half-a-second to decide what to do, so he tries to skate through everyone.”
Absolute focus crucial
Brandon works hard to keep such scenarios to a minimum, stressing that Deaf players need to stay completely focused to be aware what’s going on around them at all times — in order to avoid everything from off-sides to continuing to skate after the whistle blows.
Those who’ve played with Brandon for a while will tell you that while Deaf, his game doesn’t exactly have the volume turned down. Resembling a young Bobby Clarke and often just as aggressive and fearless as the former Flyers captain, Brandon combines a strong two-way game with an in-your-face style that some may not expect from a Deaf player.
Said Tim, “He stands up for himself, all right. Both he and Brittany want to prove themselves and I’ve always encouraged that.”
Given the growing trend of trash talk in hockey, being Deaf may have one advantage.
“I can’t hear the other team razz me,” said Brandon, who like his sister plays sports year round — with soccer and three-on-three hockey keeping him busy through the spring and summer. “I can focus 100 per cent of my attention on my play and not what the other team is saying to me.”
An intricate part of a powerhouse Twisters take that’s now well into the playoffs, Brittany has aspirations of making the jump to AA hockey in the next year or two — something that seems within reach.
“Brittany’s a very hard working girl. I’m truly amazed at how she reacts on the ice on off-sides and all the whistles,” said coach Paul Cook. “She’s adapted really well.”
For all the headway in making competitive sports more accessible to Deaf people, Tim says there’s still plenty of kids who aren’t enjoying organized athletics like their hearing counterparts.
“Often I see hearing parents who seem to have reservations about putting their Deaf child into sports. I feel that if a child wishes to try out for a sport, whether it’s recreational or competitive, they should be encouraged to do so, regardless of their hearing status.”