SHELTON—Brothers Peter and Garrett Gintoli of Shelton, both graduates of Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, will participate in the 18th Winter Deaflympics to be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia March 28-April 5. The competition will include teams from Canada, Finland, Russia, and USA.
Peter and Garrett were selected after attending the U.S. Deaflympic Ice Hockey team tryouts, hosted by the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA). Tryouts were held in Buffalo, N.Y., this past August. The brothers are Notre Dame graduates, Peter (2010) and Garrett (2014). Peter went on to play for the Bay State Breakers Junior Teams in Rockland, Mass., in the Eastern Junior Hockey league. He is currently a junior on the Salve Regina University Men’s Team (NCAA DIII). Garrett is currently with the South Shore Kings U18 Tier 1 team in Foxboro, Mass., in the USPHL.
The brothers have been involved with AHIHA since 2003. Peter was selected to the 2011 (High Tatras, Slovakia) U.S. Deaflympic team as well as the 2009 (Winnipeg, CA) and 2013 (Vantaa, Finland) U.S. World Championship teams. Garrett made his first appearance at the 2013 World Championships.
Both boys were born with Melnick-Fraser syndrome, which has caused a progressive moderate to severe hearing loss for which they wear bilateral hearing aids. To qualify for the games, an athlete must have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in the “better ear.” Assistive devices, including hearing aids and cochlear implants are not allowed in competition, in order to assure that athletes are on an even playing field.
Player funding for the Deaflympics is provided by the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association through private donations and support form the USA Hockey Foundation. Players are also asked to raise a significant portion of their expenses. Donations on a player’s behalf are being accepted. To help support a player, use the link below or send donations to the address below.
Online Donations: www.AHIHA.org
AHIHA Mailing Address:
The American Hearing impaired Hockey Association
4214 W. 77th Place
Chicago, IL 60652
For information on the 18th Winter Deaflympics: www.2015deaflympics.org.
