At the S.J. Willis Education Centre, the sound of sticks clacking against plastic balls and cheers echoing off the gym walls carries a deeper meaning than the game itself. Eight ball hockey teams gathered for the Hockey Without Limits tournament, an inclusive event giving adults living with disabilities the chance to experience the game, build friendships and feel part of a team. For Jacob Rosser, stepping onto the floor as a goalie is more than just recreation. “I always wanted to play hockey in the NHL,” Rosser said. For the past two years, he’s been playing in a weekly ball hockey league, finding both structure and belonging in a sport he once only watched from home. His mother, Jennifer Hartley, says the change in her son has been profound. Rosser is neurodivergent and has faced significant challenges, including severe anxiety in his earlier years. “Ten years ago he couldn’t walk outside,” Hartley said. “He was scared of contamination from the ground, people couldn’t touch him, he could never be touched by humans.” Today, she says hockey has helped transform his life. “It is something that I genuinely treasure because it’s community,” Rosser said. That sense of community is exactly what organizers say the league is built on — creating a space where players can grow not only in sport, but in confidence and connection. “All of those incredible life lessons all from the hockey league,” Hartley said. The tournament was hosted at S.J. Willis, which is currently serving as a temporary home for the Garth Homer Society — a non-profit that supports more than 240 adults in Greater Victoria living with developmental disabilities. CEO Geoffrey Ewert says the temporary space has opened unexpected doors for engagement. “With the amount of space that we have here we are able to get a real jump on furthering our community engagement,” Ewert said. “It’s a really great opportunity to build some community.” That opportunity now includes hosting both the ball hockey league and the Hockey Without Limits tournament. For participants like Tristan Dodgshon, the impact is simple but powerful. “Everybody can play, it’s inclusive, it’s just a lot of fun,” Dodgshon said. And for Rosser, it all comes back to belonging. “Anyone can play, you just need the right mindset, the right tools and the right people around you to set you up for success,” he said. In a gym filled with energy, laughter and teamwork, Hockey Without Limits is doing exactly what its name suggests, proving that sport can open doors far beyond the rink.
