Mark DeMontis, the founder of the Canadian Blind Hockey and a member of the Canadian National Blind Hockey team, has won the Canadian Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award.
The award is given annually to an individual who, through hockey, has positively impacted his or her community culture or society.
Through the Canadian Blind Hockey organization, DeMontis has helped thousands of blind and partially sighted people experience the game of hockey.
DeMontis was a top-level hockey player growing up with dreams of earning an NCAA scholarship when he was diagnosed with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, a rare affliction when central vision is lost, at the age of 17.
But DeMontis refused to let his diagnosis end his hockey dream. Inspired by his mentor Herb Carnegie, he began several charity initiatives for the blind hockey community.
“The most gratifying thing has been seeing the impact, first-hand, especially with youngsters and their families,” DeMontis said in an interview with NHL.com. “It’s always been a goal of mine to show blind or partially sighted youth across the country, and around the world for that matter, that blind hockey not only existed, but that they could participate despite their disability.”