Glove to help a young man play the game...

[Scott Battram]

This morning I am about to set out to work on a glove for a young man in Michigan who has a hand deformity (I would need to look up the actual name since I cannot remember it) where he basically has no fingers on his glove hand but still has the ability to open and close his hand at the natural break like, despite this, loves hockey and is playing goal, the problem of course he cannot close any glove. After searching various companies for a solution to this problem they came to us. We have been in contact with his Physiotherapist and his Occupational therapist in efforts to design something that will work. Of course my wife being an occupational therapist as well we think we have the solution and I am about to set out to make the glove. If all goes well it will be done be the end of the night and I will post some pics. Hopefully it will work as its been a 3 or 4 month project with the customer and his team of therapists. This is the first time we have done something like this on a catch glove, so it should be interesting!!

[Jester]

Scott,

Kudos to you and Tischa for tackling that project. It is a shame the outfits with lots of resources can't be bothered.

[Scipio]

Nice story Scott and nice of you to take on the venture. Look forward to seeing the pics.

[Ryano42]

AMAZING Scott!!!

It's so good of you to take on this challenge...please know we are all rooting for you and Tischa...and especially HIM! :)

[Oddzilla]

Scott, that's awesome! I know my wife would be interested in seeing this as she is also an Occupational Therapist (10 years) AND a goalie (20 years).

[Moving Target]

I for one would be really interested in seeing your solution...

kudos

[Sprite]

He can maybe use 2 blocker like same than Dan Blackburn (NY Ranger)


Injuries and retirement
Unfortunately for Blackburn, a shoulder injury forced him into retirement in 2005.
He retired after missing the entire 2003-04 NHL season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003-04_NHL_season) due to a nerve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve) injury sustained just before training camp to his left shoulder. He had nerve exploration surgery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgery) on March 31 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_31), 2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004), then made an attempt to return to hockey, sporting a pair of blockers rather than the conventional blocker/catcher combination, as his injury rendered him incapable of closing his catcher. On February 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_1), 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005), he joined the ECHL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECHL) Victoria Salmon Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Salmon_Kings) going 3-9-0, with a 3.54 GAA in 12 games. On September 15 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_15), during the Rangers training camp, he suffered a strained MCL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCL). Subsequently, Blackburn announced his retirement on September 25 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_25). Had Blackburn continued to attempt a comeback, he would have forfeited an insurance payout of approximately 6 million dollars. His cousin, Peter Blackburn, is currently in the Boston Bruins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Bruins) minor league organization, the Providence Bruins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_Bruins).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Blackburn
Pics:
http://ordinaryleastsquare.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/blackburn.jpg

[Ryano42]

I remember watching Blackburn when he first came up...he was gonna be a star. I hope he can still do great things in the sport... :)

[goalman43]

I think he retired.

[Vision]

He had to, that or forfeit insurance money. He is still involved in the game tho, working in or with the equipment industry.

::m

[Gregan]

Any progress on this glove Scott? How did it turn out? What changes did you make? Pics?

[Scott Battram]

Basically what I did was make a glove with no finger stalls, then put in a plate in the glove to simulate a hand inside, which the goalie hopefully can apply pressure downward on to close the glove and then upward pressure to open it. His mother said that no glove really closes for him, but he has adapted to trapping the puck in the webbing, so we used the x web pocket and made it as open as possible for him in order to absorb the energy of the puck entering the pocket.

He should get the glove early next week so hopedully it will work out for hinm!

[Ryano42]

Bravo Scott!!!

Please share pics when you can! :)

[HotBranch!]

Scott:

Is the young man in question Joe Rogers?

Kudos to you for taking on a project that many others may have decided wasn't worth the effort.