Pioneer Press

Geri-Anne Zubich was born a hockey player.

The Hibbing, Minn., native hoped her children would play the game, too. But that seemed unlikely after her son, Wyatt, was born having seizures.

When he was 6 months old, the doctors said Wyatt would never walk or talk.

"Every dream I had was taken away," said Zubich, 40, of Golden Valley.

Then she learned about sled hockey - a sport nearly identical to hockey except the participants compete on sleds and are pushed or use two shortened sticks to propel themselves on the ice and to score. Zubich knew the sport would be perfect for her son.

Two years ago, she formed the Minnesota Sled Hockey Association for children and adults with disabilities. The nonprofit has attracted almost 50 adults and children from across the state. Every Sunday, the teams take to the ice in Richfield.

One player is 8-year-old Wyatt.

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