|
 1970
Pat Flick who had been involved with minor
hockey since 1970, notices a young boy who always came out to rink but only
to watch his brother. He discovers that he is developmentally challenged. So
with the help of the Grandravine Athletic Association he arranges some ice
time and with just 2 players the Grandravine Tornadoes are born
1992
While waiting for his flight at Toronto
International Airport, Tony Sansone reads about Pat's team and dreams of
starting a similar program in St. Louis. For 2 years he struggles to find the
ice time necessary.
1994
Finally in January, with the help of Kelly Chase
of the St. Louis Blues, Tony launches the Gateway Locomotives. On
Thanksgiving weekend , he invites Pat Flick and the Grandravine Tornadoes to
St. Louis for a two team tournament.
1995
St.
Louis again hosts their Thanksgiving tournament with the 2 new clubs joining
Grandravine and the host Gateway Locomotives. They are the Durham Dragons
and the Ottawa Valley Ambassadors.
1996
Special Hockey International is officially
launched, with Pat Flick as commissioner and Tony as President. They establish
an annual tournament to be hosted by different teams. St. Louis the first
annual SHI tournament.
British diplomat Mike Dwyer is transferred to
New York from Toronto where his son Iain had played with the Grandravine
Tornadoes. Mike convinced and cajoled his friends and business associates to
help start the New York Raptors. The team is now run by Mrs. Reggi Mensch
and Mrs. Patty Nadolske.
In Denver Tracy Tucker starts the Colorado Golden
Eagles with 5 players after reading about the St. Louis program in American
Hockey News. They have now grown to 40 players spread across two teams.
1997
The tournament is held in New York with 10 teams
attending. The league is growing.
Inspired by the New York Raptors, the Cougars
take to the ice in Albany.
1998
Sixteen teams travel to Canada's Capital, Ottawa.
2000
The tournament is moved from the Fall to a
February date in 2000 and held in the beautiful city of Denver. This gives
teams more time to prepare.
2001
In 2001 the tournament was hosted in Toronto by
its other founding team the Grandravine Tornadoes.
2002
2002 was Albany's turn to host the annual
tournament.
Now back in England, Mike Dwyer makes SHI truly
international by starting a team in London.
The Werewolves of
London are a part of Streatham Youth Hockey Club in London, England.
2003
The tournament is back in the Toronto area with
the Durham Dragons hosting the biggest SHI Tournament ever in nearby Whitby.
The Michigan Far Flyers join SHI. With two
teams, the Varsity Team and the Junior Varity Team, they are a part of Variety FAR Conservatory
of Therapeutic and Performing Arts Ice Skating program in Birmingham,
Michigan. |
