Lacey Hockey Manager With Cerebral Palsy Scores Hat Trick

LACEY, NJ — The plan to get Eric Czaplinski on the ice developed months ago. Czaplinski plays for the Brick Stars, a hockey team for players with disabilities. But Czaplinski, who has cerebral palsy, got an opportunity to lace up Monday for the high school team.

Czaplinski made the most of his chance on senior night against Central Regional. Both head coaches knew Czaplinski would play and score a goal, but hardly anyone knew the senior would score three.

Lacey coach Chris DiMicco had the idea when going over the schedule. Czaplinski had been the team's manager for four years.

He asked Central Regional coach Joe Pelliccio if he would support Czaplinski suiting up and scoring a goal against his team. Pelliccio was all for it.

"He’s the one kid who’s always smiling," DiMicco said. "It doesn’t matter what’s going on throughout our day."

The crowd went wild from the moment his name was announced in the starting lineup to his third goal.

See one goal below:

Years in the Making

DiMicco met Czaplinski eight years ago outside of hockey. DiMicco's friend owned a gym, and Czaplinski used to train with them. Czaplinski always smiled, like he does now, whether he trained by sitting up, standing or walking.

Czaplinski joined the Brick Stars several years ago, playing hockey with other athletes with disabilities. He consistently inspires his teammates to stay positive and persevere, says Brick Stars coach and founder Alex DePalma.

Many Brick Stars athletes have the same initial fears about playing hockey: getting on the ice, not getting accepted, not believing they can do it. Then they see Czaplinski.

"They look at him, and they see themselves," DePalma said. "It’s about all the kids that look at him and get inspired to do things that they don’t normally do."

Czaplinski's hockey abilities sharpened since he started participating. He used to play with a device similar to a walker. With time, patience and help from coaches, he began skating without it a year ago, using his hockey stick as support.

"I used to watch him skate on Sundays," DiMicco said of the Brick Stars practices, where his players volunteer. "My team would go up and skate on the ice with him, and over time, he got more comfortable on the ice. Next thing you know, he’s by himself."

As manager of Lacey's team, Czaplinski feels like just one of the guys, cracking jokes, DiMicco said. On Monday, Czaplinski suited up just like any other player.

The Game

DiMicco told his uncle DePalma months ago about the plan for Czaplinski to play and score. He asked DePalma to attend the game.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," DePalma said.

Czaplinski knew he was going to play. He didn't know the plan for him to score.

"It was one of those secrets that was right in front of him, but he didn’t really know what we were talking about," DiMicco said. "He said, ‘What’s going on?’ I went, ‘Nothing, nothing.’"

But as he wore No. 33, the crowd exploded when his name was announced with the rest of the starting lineup.

DiMicco understood the situation's enormity. A few of his players take telecommunications classes at Lacey High School. Six people from the classes arrived to film him from several different angles.

Czaplinski reentered the match with about four minutes left in the first quarter. The senior worked the puck up the ice as other players walked with him, before he slid it into the net. His teammates and many Central Regional athletes celebrated with him.

The plan worked to perfection — or so DiMicco thought.

DiMicco had no idea what would happen next. As everyone stopped in the second period to discuss something on the ice, the coach thought maybe something bad happened.

A couple Lacey and Central Regional players actually made a plan with officials to get Czaplinski a penalty shot.

Then DiMicco heard, "penalty shot for 33." Czaplinski scored his second goal.

Later in the game, Central Regional's captain skated by Lacey's captain and said, "Let's make it three," according to DiMicco.

DiMicco got the puck and completed the hat trick. The student, athlete and manager who always smiles gave everyone in the rink a smile they couldn't wipe off their faces.

DePalma knows what athletes with disabilities can accomplish, and he hopes Czaplinski's hat trick helps everyone take notice.

"It should transcend to more kids with physical disabilities," DePalma said, "for more typical hockey players or kids in sports to say, ‘hey, these kids deserve a shot too.’"

DePalma sees potential for people with disabilities on the hockey rink. Email him at alexdepalma@comcast.net to learn more about the Brick Stars.

Photos from HockeyClan, with permission.

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