Hurricanes fan with spinal defect brings sled hockey to Raleigh

RALEIGH, NC (WTVD) — Tyler Jacoby’s love for hockey started back in 2006, when the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup.

“I’ve been a Hurricanes fan my whole life,” said Jacoby. “One day I was watching one of their games and I said ‘Hey, I want to play like them.’”

Tyler, 15, who was born with spina bifida, was determined to get on the ice.

“They pushed me around in a medal folding chair,” he said. “Did that for like a season or two and I got my first sled.”

With the help of his parents, Tyler began to organize sled hockey in Raleigh. This year marks the first season for the Hurricanes Sled Hockey team.

“This is all Tyler’s doing you know,” said Brant Ireland. “Tyler and his parents. What an opportunity they’ve given so many of us.”

Ireland, an Army Sergeant First Class, grew up as an all-around athlete.

“I played football, basketball and baseball in high school and played college baseball,” he said. “And then into the military.”

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