What is Blind Hockey?

Blind Hockey is the same exhilarating, fast-paced sport as ice hockey, with minimal rule changes to adapt with game for players who are legally blind and ensure player safety.

The most significant modification is the sport features an adapted puck that makes noise, and is both bigger and slower than a traditional puck. Players’ levels of vision range from legally blind – approximately 10% vision or less – to totally blind. Typically, totally blind athletes play goal (or defense); lower sighted athletes play defense; and higher sighted athletes play forward. Additional modifications include:

• Custom 3 foot high nets are used rather than the traditional 4 foot nets to keep the puck low and near the ice so it can make noise and be tracked aurally.
• Teams must complete one pass in the attacking zone prior to being able to score. This provides both the low vision defense and the goalie an extra opportunity to track the puck.
• An on ice official uses a different whistle to indicate that a pass has been completed and the attacking team is eligible to score.
• Tag-up off-sides is used with the assistance of verbal communication from on ice officials. The game is played with standard IIHF safety protocols including no-touch icing, and crease violations to ensure utmost player safety.
• All players must wear full protective gear including face mask.

History of Blind hockey

Blind Hockey has been played in Canada since the early 1970’s, and blind players participated with Minnesota Special Hockey for several years. However, the sport of blind hockey wasn't officially introduced in the U.S. until October 18, 2014 when the first ever Blind Hockey Summit was held in Newburgh, NY. At this event, local players and visiting Canadian players formed two teams and played two structured games, following a try-it session which introduced the sport to many new players. The following spring USA Hockey held a similar event at the 2015 USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Festival, in Buffalo, NY to increase awareness of the sport. 

Since then, players and programs have sprung up all over the country, making blind hockey one of the fastest growing segments of Minnesota Diversified Hockey.