Bensenville to Host Stan Mikita Hockey School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will host its 51st annual week-long hockey school for deaf and hard of hearing athletes from June 8–15 at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Illinois.

Founded in 1973 by Chicago Blackhawk and National Hockey League Hall of Famer Stan Mikita and Chicago businessman Irv Tiahnybik, its mission is to instill confidence and self-esteem in deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association-sponsored clinics, camps and related hockey activities.

Approximately 74 young athletes from across the country are enrolled this year, which does not charge for athletes to attend with all expenses incurred by the team or players paid for by donations. The AHIHA has current and former professional players serving as coaches and uses on-ice interpreters to convey instructions and advice to players via sign language.

“We’ve achieved a lot in the last 50 years and are excited for all the new avenues ahead of us to grow and expand our opportunities for this organization,” said Kevin Delaney, AHIHA president and skating/skills coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.

In addition to daily on-ice training and practice sessions, AHIHA teams play evening games against Chicago-area teams and clubs.

The organization also completed organizing and hosting its inaugural Jeff Sauer International Deaf Hockey Series in Buffalo, which included athletes from Czechoslovakia, Finland, Canada and the United States and women’s teams from Canada and U.S. Previous AHIHA teams have played in past World Winter Deaflympics and World games and will do so in the future.

“Nearly 3,000 deaf and hard of hearing athletes have been coached and trained at our school,” said Delaney. “Our teams have won gold, silver and bronze medals at major international winter sports competitions and the vast majority of our athletes have used our school as a springboard to successful high school, college and junior hockey careers. We are very proud of our accomplishments over the years and are looking forward to continuing to serve the deaf and hard of hearing community for many years to come.”