Members of the East Coast Jumbos at practice in Watertown.Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio
WATERTOWN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — When Ray LeBlanc started to take his young kids to play ice hockey some 20 years ago, his son Shane would tag along.
Shane, who has autism, loves to skate and loved coming to watch the other kids play hockey.
So, LeBlanc decided to start a program Shane could play in. "I think we had four or five kids on the team, that was it," he said. "But now we're past the 60s into the 70s."
The East Coast Jumbos are made up of hockey players who have autism and Down syndrome.
Leblanc said the team isn't just about hockey. It's about socializing and making friends.
Dillon Scarnici has been on the Jumbos eight years. "We get to travel. We get to meet kids from different states, different countries. It's a lot of fun and I enjoy it," he said.
Teamsters Local 25 will honor the Jumbos and their contributions to the autism community at their 15th annual Autism Gala at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on Saturday, April 27. The event will raise money for autism services and research.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.
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