Liam “The Enforcer” O’Brien put down his iron fist and picked up his heart of gold during a morning practice with the One Step Coyotes.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 29-year-old ice hockey player , known for his aggressive style, shows a softer side in his community outreach efforts. This season, he has spent 121 minutes in the box and is the title holder for the most penalty minutes.
a renowned ice hockey player known for his aggressive style, shows a softer side in his community outreach efforts.
.@OfficialBigTuna is all about his teammates.
Last week, his teammates for one day of practice were the One Step Coyotes, who are an inclusive hockey team that looks to provide neurodivergent individuals opportunities to play hockey. pic.twitter.com/8x43nj1fbo
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 2, 2024
One Step Beyond Inc. founded the team to make hockey more inviting for, and inclusive to, individuals that are neurodivergent. Originally named the One Step Bobcats in 2017, the name changed to One Step Coyotes after becoming an official NHL affiliate a year later.
Befittingly, the team accepted custom jerseys and gear from the Arizona Coyotes for their inaugural season. Accompanying the physical donations, they new team accepted grants from the Arizona Coyotes Foundation.
OSBI is always looking for volunteers. To become involved, visit their website to learn more.
O’Brien’s Motivation
This is not the first time Liam O’Brien has participated in a community outreach program centered around neurodivergent children. On December 6, 2023 he, and teammate Sean Durzi, volunteered in an adaptive hockey clinic through Mikey’s League.
Programs that focus on helping children are important to the Nova Scotia native. He explained in an interview, “I think it’s really nice that I get to work with some kids that have similar disabilities to some of the kids [my mom] worked with in the past.”
Crediting his drive to be an active member in the community to his parents, who taught through example. He said, “My dad was always very involved in the hockey community back home, whether it was helping a kid out making decisions, helping out a single mother, just anything.”
O’Brien and Durzi’s full participation at Mikey’s League can be found on the Coyote’s official website.
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