Imagine an International Competition of Blind Hockey Players at the Olympic Games. That is the goal of Mark John DeMontis, a twenty-one year old third year student of the University of Western Ontario, in St. Cathrines, Canada. Mark has lost his central sight and relies on peripheral vision, because of Leber’s Optical Neuropathy, a disease that left him legally blind. It is a disease that is passed from mother to child, especially male children.
Like many Canadian youths, the 5’8” Mark has always had a dream to be part of a National Hockey Team that will win a gold medal for Canada at the Olympic Games. He also had his eyes on a possible National Hockey League career, where he had already attracted the attention of some scouts. However, his dream suffered a serious setback when he developed the disabling decease.
The multi-talented Toronto born young man had everything going for him. Not only was he a brilliant high school student, he was also a star hockey player and was also on his school’s baseball team. Mark is also a gifted communicator and a Performing Artist who won an award for his part in acting Macbeth. He was editor of his high school magazine and is also a powerful public speaker, who was a valedictorian of his class. He is presently a third year student at the University of Western Ontario, where he is studying a Degree in the Media and the Public Interest.
Mark did not let partial blindness deter him. He joined the Ice Owls, a team of blind hockey players of all ages, some of whom had great hockey skills. They have played hockey throughout the country raising funds for several community projects. He has also perfected his skating skills and is encouraging other blind Canadian hockey players to engage in the game that is a national pastime in the country. To this end, he has, along with some supporters, formed Courage Canada, a national charity that is dedicated to promoting his objectives of to teaching blind people to acquire skating skills, play hockey and build a Canadian Blind Hockey Association.
At the moment Mark has set his sight on the Vancouver Winter Games. He plans to skate all the way from Toronto to Vancouver where he plans to raise awareness of his goal to bring access for blind hockey players from around the world to international competition.
“Although I have lost my sight, I have not lost my vision,” says the energetic young Canadian. He might have also added that he has not lost his mission to bring blind hockey players to the Olympic Games.
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