High School Hockey Goalie Help Spread Autism Awareness Message

A high school hockey goalie from Howell in Farmingdale, New Jersey took exception from the common practice of college and National Hockey League goalies who use their masks to promote a message while playing the sport. This time, Eric McMahon has proven that even a high school goalie can help spread a message through his mask.

McMahon was so passionate about raising Autism awareness that he painted his hockey mask with a "Fighting for Autism" message. USA Today said photos of his mask with the Autism campaign design got raves from his Twitter followers and the hockey community in New Jersey.

"It all started when I found out my travel league offered a skate for kids with autism.," McMahon said. "They offered this primarily every Saturday. I tried going as much as I could based on game schedule and family obligations but it made me think. All goalies in the NHL paint their masks to look really awesome but they also tell a story. No matter what the story, warm, dark or whatever, it's a story that means something to them."

McMahon said since his school has a program specifically for autistic kids, he asked permission from the principal to start his campaign and then asked an artist Gerry Lafreniere to work on his design. The mask, which shows the school environment and the logo of fighting autism, will be donated by McMahon to the school when he graduates.

Sports is not only a venue for promoting autism awareness but WBUR said it is also an effective therapy for children who falls within the spectrum. This is shown by Walker Aurand who was diagnosed with autism when he was just three months old.

Even though doctors told his parents to just live with it, they responded by looking for somethign that would provide alternative therapy for their son and it turned out to be the Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan ice hockey rink. Walker is now 20 and a competitive hockey player.

The National Autistic Society has encouraged sports instructors and coaches to learn a thing or two about providing the needs of persons within the autism spectrum who are interested in sports or who are already in their group. The Society provides training for practitioners who want to provide support for persons with autism.