“I hadn’t really thought about Travis’ missing
limb since the first day I met the boys, nor have
I heard any discussion from their junior varsity
teammates in the locker room about it,” the
coach said. “In fact, I didn’t realize Talbot had
missing digits until (a recent) JV practice.”
Michael Cappiello, who as the team’s JV coach
works more closely with the boys, does not see
any problems with their play either.
“I can only echo coach Todd in saying it is very
easy to forget their disability once they are on
the ice,” Cappiello said. “Both are just hockey
players to us. They are hard-working, good
boys and good hockey players. If either of
them have a limit to his abilities I have not
seen it yet.”
Like their younger brother Tate, Travis and Talbot
spent some time playing inline hockey before
taking up the sport on ice and trying out for the
high school team. Their spots on the JV roster
justify that decision.
“You would never know either of them are playing
with a disability, as they are both acclimating
very well to ice hockey after coming over from
inline hockey,” Comunale said. “Both brothers
work very hard in practice, are eager to learn, and
are continually trying to improve their game. Their
parents are fully engaged and extremely supportive
as well, seeking additional opportunities for on-ice
instruction to enhance their children’s hockey skill
set. They’re simply hockey players in my eyes and
they’ve been a wonderful addition to the Durant
program.”
Tom his proud of his adopted sons, saying, “They
love the ice. They get into it. We didn’t know
what kind of level they would compete at and
they’ve actually surprised us. They do real well.”
For now, Tate is staying with inline hockey.
In a championship game at the Roller Den in
December, Tate’s team, the Snipers, defeated the
Assault 7-2.
“My brothers taught me how to play hockey, so
I’m starting to like it,” Tate said, adding that even
though he does not have a right forearm “I can
still shoot and stickhandle and all that.”
As for Annie, Mary Ellen said, “This is her first
year and she’s doing great.”
Annie said “She likes everything about (skating).
It gives me such a thrill. I found something that
I really love to do, and for hours and hours. She
does not see a problem with skating with no
forearms, reasoning, There is a saying that you
can’t miss what you don’t have.”
While up north, the Clarks raised three biological
children, including Abbey, who had Down’s
Syndrome. After that, the adoptions began with
Tyler, who was missing his right forearm.
“I had always wanted to adopt,” Mary Ellen said.
“After we had a child with Down’s Syndrome we
didn’t think it would be a problem. When you’re
looking at a special needs child you have to have
the resources and be equipped enough to handle
it. We felt that Abbey had taught us the value of
every child.”
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Talbot and Travis often
played street hockey but never in an organized
league. Not surprisingly,
they are Penguins fans
having seen that team
win Stanley Cups in 2009,
20016 and 2017. In fact,
Travis, a goaltender, lists
Marc Andre Fleury, the
former Pittsburgh goalie
who now plays for the
Las Vegas Golden Knights, as his favorite National
Hockey League player.
Unlike his brother Travis straps on a prosthesis for
his trapper (a goalie’s catching glove). Even more
remarkable is the fact that he had to switch sides
because his right side had been for his blocker
and that would not go over the artificial device.
“I’m used to blocking with my right hand instead
of catching it, but I handled it,” Travis said. “I
can’t close my hand. I just have to hold onto the
puck until the ref blows the whistle. You can’t
really tell that I’m missing (his right hand).”
“To have a boy whose missing a hand who is a
goalie, some might say that’s impossible,” Mary
Ellen noted. “I just tell them to focus on what you
can do, not what you can’t do.”
Tom noted that once after a high school practice
some players in an adult league asked Travis to
fill in because their goalie did not show up. He did
fine, Tom said, adding, “Their words were, ‘He
won the game for us.’”
Talbot, a winger, is equally determined not to let
a handicap deter his play on the ice. “I don’t
think about it,” he said. “I feel equal (to his
teammates) if not better than them.”
Todd Comunale, head coach of Durant’s varsity
hockey team, does not view the handicaps as a
setback for the Clark brothers.
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