The Peterborough Huskies, a special needs hockey team for males/females of all ages where everyone plays regardless of their ability, has introduced a new player to the team: Robbie, age 35, who had his first practice with the team on Sunday (October 20th). Robbie plays in a wheelchair. Huskies Coach Chris J-Boy Williams tells us Robbie has cerebral palsy, but "has had a lifelong dream to play ice hockey and the Huskies were there to make that happen." Robbie, who is a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan (his favourite player is Jonathan Bernier), is one of the first players to play on a hockey team in a wheelchair. Indeed, Coach Williams tells us he did "research to find out if there were any other players within SHI (Special Hockey International) using a wheelchair, and I was unable to find anyone else in any organization anywhere in the world which included these players." Take a look at pictures from Robbie's first practice below...

Robbie's first practice with the Peterborough Huskies is awesome

This is how the @PtboHuskies are changing lives and when we say everyone plays you better believe it! pic.twitter.com/upWHyDWKkN
— Chris J-Boy Williams (@Jayboy_Williams) October 19, 2014

Since Robbie has joined the Peterborough Huskies, Coach Williams tells PTBOCanada he has had two other wheelchair players show interest in joining the Huskies—and that the Huskies have already began looking into the purchase of a used mobility minibus so that they will be able to travel with the team!

So how does Robbie "skate" in his wheelchair on the ice? Coach Williams tells us for now "we fastened a board to the front of the chair and I had Robbie work on his puck control. Within a few minutes, he found his way to the net and scored his first goal!"