New ball hockey league breaks barriers at Cochrane High

For the first time, the learning support program at Cochrane High School has spearheaded a sports league, thanks to a bright and bold student - and Special Olympic floor hockey bronze medallist - with an enduring passion for the game.

“I feel, like, really proud of me to do this, ” said Nic Lilly this week, a shy smile spreading across his cheeks. “I don't want to do this just for me or myself … I want to do this for the whole school. ”

Lilly, 17, is autistic and is one of 26 students that make up the supportive learning program at Cochrane High School. It's a robust and close-knit group of teenagers who have a variety of needs and are integrated within the fabric of the school.

The teenager has been playing and loving hockey since he was two years old, and in 2016 he became the youngest athlete to compete at the Special Olympics in Corner Brook, NL, as a member of the national floor hockey squad. He returned home to Cochrane with a bronze medal around his neck, and also earned a hard hat for scoring a well-earned three goals in one game.

Returning from competition, Lilly said he wanted to keep playing his favourite sport - but he couldn't, because Cochrane High didn't have a ball hockey team.

“They don't actually have it here, ” he said. “I want(ed) to keep on going. ”

Friend and neighbour Jackson Edwards, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student at Cochrane High, remembers when Lilly first brought up the idea of starting a school league.

“We were just talking on the bus, ” said Edwards, who has been friends with Lilly for years and understands his autistic challenges. “I know everything that he has to go through on a daily basis. I think it's very inspiring - he really just went for it. ”

School protocol states that anyone who wants to start a sports league needs to put together a proposal and present it to the principal, so Lilly began working with support teacher Shelley Hasselberg to try and make his dream a reality.

“When he gets something that he's wanting to do, he stays on it, ” said Hasselberg of Lilly. “When he has a goal, he wants to achieve it. ”

The pair bounced around a ton of ideas - like originally, fervent fan Lilly wanted to propose playing ball hockey every day - and eventually they came up with a clear written outline for a once-a-week league to run during flex time on Wednesdays.

Lilly then presented his concept to Cochrane High principal Eddie Polhill.

“We're really keen on having students put together ideas … This was one that kind of resonated with us, ” said Polhill. “Considering his background in the sport, it was just kind of a cool thing, ”

Learning support lead Sinead Holzer said she was proud - but not surprised - when Polhill approved Lilly's well-thought-out plan.

“Nic was so generous with his passion … You just can't help but get excited when he gets excited, ” she said. “I knew everybody would feel his excitement and run with it. ”

Now, eight youth from the supportive learning program play in the brand-new ball hockey league, alongside the general population of the school.

For kids who haven't played hockey before, the talented Lilly is thrilled to teach them some moves, and for classmates who may not have the physical ability to play the game, Lilly has found spots for them, too - one friend is now the league's referee.

“He's breaking down barriers, ” said Edwards, who is part of the ball hockey crew. “It's really cool to see ... it's just inspirational. ”

The squad has suited up for two games so far - and last week, Lilly's league received an extra boost when Cochrane-born NHL prospect Dillon Dub é took to the turf. Dub é's mom, Suzy, works at the high school - and so he and his family gave some of their time to bring even more much-deserved attention to Lilly's endeavor.

“We all got a little choked up, ” said Holzer of the spirit and support shown by Dub é and the school as a whole. “When you see kids that are so kind … it's pretty awesome. ”

“I was amazed. I was like, holy man, ” Lilly said.

Lilly said his goal is to see the Cochrane High ball hockey league continue, even after his time at the school is done in a couple of years.

“I want to keep doing this for every single year. Even when I'm 19 years old, I'm still going to come back here and play, ” he said. “I want to keep on building this. ”

Polhill said he's happy to see the group grow - especially since Lilly's endeavor has transcended the sport itself to shine a light on the importance of inclusivity.

“The students in the (supportive learning) program are important just like every single student in the building, and I hope that they feel just as part of things as every other student in the building, ” he said. “It's just amazing for the life and the culture of our school. It's not just what they learn - but what we all learn.

“It takes so many different types of people to make up our work and our communities. Those differences are what make us strong ... that's the type of world that I want to live in, and hopefully that message resonates. ”