Rotary Log: April 17, 2014 (Olympian)

Posted by Richard Seery 
on Apr 22, 2014
 
 

Let’s begin with Sanford Cross introducing his guest speaker… 

Remember the opening clip to the ABC Wide World of Sports television show back in the 70’s … it captured athletes experiencing the “thrill of victory or the agony of defeat…”

          Local hockey buff, Taylor Chace, was just that prolific profile, just in reverse.  At age 16, he achieved an invitation to play for the Manchester Junior Monarchs.  Unfortunately, in a freak situation, he was “boarded” (a term for being smashed against the rink’s side boards) after taking a slap shot on the goal.  The collision with the boards fractured his vertebra severely.  Next he discovered he was paralyzed from the waist down.  The injurious crash affected his balance, body movements and sensitivity.  As a true athlete, he loved competitive sports, and now he knew little about how to move on.

          His unbelievable inner strength kicked in as Taylor strived for the next level. With the help of his sister, a therapist with Northeast Passage, a 25 year old non-profit partnership with UNH, Taylor was rehabbed and introduced to Sled Hockey.  The disability rehab program he painfully underwent led him to a 2005 tryout with the US Olympic Sled Hockey Team.  In 2006, he joined the USA Sled Hockey Team and headed to the Torino, Italy Paralympic Games.  That journey brought a Bronze Medal, losing to a stronger Russian team. 

Then, in the 2010 Games in Vancouver, BC, USA won a Gold Medal.   Taylor was named Defenseman of the Tournament and Paralympic Sportsman of the Year! 

Next, in 2014 USA traveled to Sochi, Russia.  Despite overwhelming odds, USA beat the same Russian team in the finals they lost to in 2006.  GOLD for Team USA!  As Taylor explained it, “What a turn of events and wack-job on their opponents!”

          Today, Taylor, at 29 years of age, is speaking to groups and encouraging other disabled individuals to sense their inner strength and deal with “Living beyond Their Disability,” the mission of Northeast Passage.

 Announcements:

The Hands-On-Crew, led by Ted Alex and Basil Richardson, invited everyone out to Pease to rehabilitate a softball field.  Supplies, about $5,000 worth were covered by the Cash Committee at cost by Ricci Lumber.

The upcoming District Conference – May 15th and 16th - should prove exciting for those who can attend.  Contact President Dave if you would like to make a reservation.

Adam Chace announced the Annual Rotary Golf Outing – June 20th at Breakfast Hill Golf Course.  Sign up early and save $25 per player. 

Rotarian Rick Page is recently home from the hospital after by-pass heart surgery.  Peg Millar is on-the-mend and, like Rick, would love to hear from club members.

Finally, the winner of the day’s raffle ($79) lost out on the bonus match.  Next week the pot grows to $600.

 

 
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