Still another inspiring story this week, this time from North Carolina in the North Carolina Extension News. Jonathan Greeson of Pikeville in Wayne County always dreamed of playing hockey. Mr. Greeson has spinal muscular atrophy and is confined to a wheelchair, but he decided not to let that stop him. In 2002, Mr. Greeson founded the Carolina Fury under the umbrella of N.C. Electric Hockey Wheelchair Association.

At the time, three players from Jacksonville, Burlington and Raleigh – where Greeson lived as a student – practiced in Cary. Today, the Carolina Fury has eight regular players from across the state. The sport is competitive, Greeson says, with rules that are similar to regulation hockey.

The team does not play on ice. Their home court is the gymnasium of Charles B. Aycock High School in Pikeville, Greeson’s high school alma mater, and their main opponents are able-bodied players who take on the Fury from wheelchairs. Though the opposing teams always put up a fight, it is usually the Fury that comes out on top.

The Fury has set a goal of competing in the PowerHockey World Championships every two years. In 2004, the team competed in Minneapolis, and in 2006, they competed in the PowerHockey Cup in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Greeson said the team drove to the competition – about five days on the road.

Greeson acknowledges that participating in PowerHockey requires support. “You have to have a really good family,” he said.

You can read the entire article on the Extension Online News blog.

Fans of the Fury can even buy merchandise. A selection of t-shirts, hats, posters, and other items can be found here. You can even find merchandise specifically with Mr. Greeson’s name and number!