Team Alberta's Family Face-Off

Family members talking about hockey around the dinner table is as Canadian as it gets.  

Shane and Tommy Bolen share the Canadian love for all things hockey and it doesn’t stop with swapping hockey facts, but also can be seen on the court where these two cousins spend hours playing and training as they prepare for the 2016 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.

It’s common to see them laughing during practice, running drills and giving high fives.

As head coach of the Team Alberta’s floor hockey team, Shane makes sure Tommy is staying on track with his exercises and training.

“I became interested in Special Olympics because of my brother who is involved as an athlete,” says Shane Bolen.

Shane’s brother, Bobby Bolen, also plays floor hockey and will be reuniting with him when they face-off against Team B.C. at the National Winter Games.

“Being a part of Special Olympics is very important,” says Shane Bolen.  “I have personally seen it transform my brother from a shy person to an outgoing person who has so many friends and enriching his life through sport.”

This experience also rings true for his cousin, Tommy Bolen who has been part of Special Olympics for 16 years. He is a forward on Team Alberta’s floor hockey team and also plays softball and bowling in Calgary. He is currently completing his pre-employment courses in college while he balances his training schedule. He attributes his social life and life skills to being part of Special Olympics.“I have met a lot of new people and Special Olympics keeps me in shape,” said Tommy Bolen.

Special Olympics is proud to bring families together to celebrate sports and limitless potential. Team Alberta members fondly call each other family and for Shane and Tommy, they’re lucky to not just have each other, but 93 other Team Alberta members to call family.