WHAT
IS THE NCEWHA?
Jonathan
Greeson, founder of the North Carolina Electric Wheelchair
Hockey Association (NCEWHA), is 24 years old and has Spinal
Muscular Atrophy. As a child, Greeson fell in love with
hockey. It became a sport that despite his disability, he
could still play in his backyard. Greeson graduated in May
2004 from NC State University where he majored in business
management. During his senior year of college, Greeson had
the opportunity to intern with Stanley Cup Champions Carolina
Hurricanes. During his time as an intern and using the knowledge
he learned in his business classes, Greeson created the
NCEWHA.
The North Carolina
Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association (NCEWHA) was created
in 2003 with the mission of developing a quality hockey
program for people in North Carolina who require the use
of an electric wheelchair in daily life.
Knowing that there are many organizations throughout the
world that embrace the disabled and help them financially
and medically, part of the NCEWHA mission is to provide
an avenue to help disabled people emotionally as well give
them a physical activity to participate in.
Young or old, male
or female, athletics has the ability to build confidence
in its participants. This is true for disabled people that
participate in athletics as well. The NCEWHA provides this
experience to disabled people of all ages. The NCEWHA helps
get disabled people out of their homes and active in their
community.
CAROLINA
FURY
From
the NCEWHA, the Carolina Fury was created. 2003 marked the
beginning of the Carolina Fury PowerHockey™ Team.
After competing together as a team for just a short time,
the Carolina Fury combined with a group from Baltimore,
Maryland and participated in the 2004 PowerHockey™
Cup, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fury were able
to raise over $3,000.00 through donations and sponsors from
people in North Carolina before the event in order to cover
most of their expenses. The Fury played 7 games in 3 days
against 2 teams from Minnesota and one from Toronto. These
teams have played together for years and it was a huge,
but fun challenge competing with them. The trip and tournament
wasn't just about the competition. While in Minneapolis,
the Fury went to the Mall of America and even a Minnesota
Twins game. Not to mention all the team dinners at the Town
Hall Brewery and other restaurants. Most importantly were
the new friendships the team made with people from all over
North America. The Carolina Fury is looking forward to competing
again at the 2006 PoweHockey™ Cup in Calgary, Alberta,
Canada. Calgary was the host city for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
The
Fury has grown each year, but in order for the team to continue
to succeed, the Fury needs more players. The team practices
in Pikeville, NC at Charles B. Aycock High School which
is near Goldsboro. Because of logistics, cost, and support
from CBA, this has been the best venue to hone their skills.
The team includes players from all over the state including
far away Burlington, NC and Jacksonville, NC. These players
love the game and are willing to make sacrifices to be at
each practice and at each game. Hockey isn't the most popular
sport in a state known for its basketball and baseball,
but if you want to play a sport and may not be not strong
enough to play basketball and baseball, you should try PowerHockey™.
Male or female, young
or old, it doesn't matter. As long as you have the size
and maturity level to compete, you can be a part of the
growing success known as the Carolina Fury. If you are interested
in learning more about PowerHockey or becoming a member
of the only PowerHockey™ team in North Carolina, please
contact us..
GOALS
AND FUTURE PLANS
Short-term goal is
to take a team from North Carolina to the Powerhockey Cup
every two years! The Cup is PowerHockey’s World Championships.
As the Fury continues to represent North Carolina at a National
level, the NCEWHA hopes to gain publicity and get more players
involved in the game. In time, the NCEWHA hopes to have
enough players to create a North Carolina Powerhockey League
with many teams competing annually. These would be regional
teams within the state playing against each other.
The Carolina Fury wants a complete roster all year long.
Not only will this help the team, it will also give the
team a chance to compete for the next cup without having
to combine with others. And who knows maybe even a chance
to win it all. Even if you have never seen a hockey game,
if you are competitive, dedicated, and a team player the
Fury's coaches can make you a great hockey player. However
creating a championship team takes more than just players,
the team needs the full support of the families. After all,
they will be the ones bringing you to practice and taking
the trips with the team.
Jonathan Greeson
has worked very hard in getting the NCEWHA started, including
obtaining nonprofit status for the organization. His
dream is to build the NCEWHA to an acceptable level that
would allow him to work for the organization fulltime and
continue working with a sport that has brought him confidence
and enjoyment. With continued support and new interest
in the NCEWHA, that day may be here sooner than he thinks!