The Gardens Ice House is proud to be the home arena for the Washington Ice Dogs and the Special Hockey International tournament featuring 36 teams from around North America. Read below for more information or visit the team's website.

Special Hockey Washington exists for the enrichment of the athlete with a developmental disability. In addition to physical hockey skills, the program emphasizes the development of desirable individual characteristics such as dependability, self-reliance, concentration, willingness to share and personal accountability. The game of hockey is used by Special Hockey Washington to develop within each player the characteristics that will help the player to be more successful both inside and outside a hockey environment.

Program Founders

Michael Hickey - Director: Michael has worked with a wide range of hockey programs within the Washington area for 28 years including the University of Maryland Terrapins, DeMatha High School and numerous county teams. He has attended coaching seminars and clinics and holds a Coaching Certification from USA Hockey and is also certified in CPR and First Aid. E-Mail: MHickey@specialhockey.org

Company Profile
Special Hockey Washington (SHW) was founded as a non-profit organization in 1999 and is the only one of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. In June of 1999, with six participants and using ice-time donated by a local rink owner, SHW initiated a 6-week trial session. The implementation was so successful (and the demand for our program so great) that before the 6-week trial run had concluded the number of participants doubled and the rink owner donated an additional 20 once-a-week ice slots to enable the skating to continue.

The program provides ice-time, skating and hockey instruction, and a full compliment of hockey equipment to any interested individual with a developmental disability, regardless of age or sex or severity of disability. The program also provides three vital components to individuals: 1) mental and emotional growth, 2) a sense of belonging and 3) physical stimulation. Few can argue the value these three elements offer to any individual. But what of the individual with a developmental disability? For a population group often denied these experiences, the impact potential is enormous. The program stresses both individual and social growth. To facilitate individual growth emphasis is placed on behavior management through the use of individually targeted goals. Social growth is addressed through the use of "team-oriented" concepts designed to foster teamwork, sportsmanship and respect for others. Participants are encouraged to rise to individualized challenges and over-come personal obstacles. Each success is recognized and the participant's self-esteem typically increases.

We have learned from direct experience that the program produces positive behavioral changes. The staff and volunteers have directly witnessed increased self-reliance and improved dispositions in participating players. At the rink, the staff and volunteers have seen it work, felt it work and charted it progress. More importantly, the parents and guardians have expressed to us that they have seen improved behaviors at home. They are enthusiastic about the program and want it to continue.

Ultimately, the program seeks to establish four Chapters at several skating rinks located within a 60-mile radius of neighboring communities within the Metro DC area.