Miracle League Hosts First On-Ice Session
Twenty athletes with disabilities took to the ice at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo in the program's inaugural session.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Ice Skating
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Miracle League of Southwest Michigan held the first-ever Miracle League on Ice session Sunday, November 1, at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. The nonprofit, which removes barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities from sports, welcomed 20 athletes onto the ice.
Why it matters
The session expands the nonprofit's offerings beyond baseball, a goal set by Executive Director Jeanette Curry. It also makes Southwest Michigan the second location in the state to run such a program.
The inaugural session drew 20 athletes, and the six-week program is the second Miracle League on Ice in Michigan. The source does not indicate how many athletes will continue through all six weeks.
The players
Miracle League of Southwest Michigan
A nonprofit that removes barriers keeping children with mental and physical disabilities from sports, operating locally in Southwest Michigan.
Jeanette Curry
Executive Director of Miracle League of Southwest Michigan, leading the organization's expansion beyond baseball.
Meijer
A Michigan-based retail chain that sponsors the South Central High School Hockey League and is covering the ice fees for the program.
The details
Many athletes used skate aids to navigate the ice during their first time skating. Youth hockey sticks and pucks will be introduced to participants who feel ready to try them, with help from volunteers from community organizations.
Timeline
Sunday, November 1, 2026: First-ever Miracle League on Ice session held at Wings Event Center.
The program runs for six nonconsecutive weeks.
Season Trajectory
The Miracle League on Ice extends the nonprofit's baseball model into a winter sport, marking a departure from its earlier focus. It also brings the program to a second Michigan location, according to the source.
Families of children with disabilities can register for the six-week program now. Participants who feel ready can try youth hockey sticks and pucks as the program progresses.
The takeaway
Adaptive sports programs can extend beyond their original sport, and the Southwest Michigan on-ice session shows how one nonprofit is testing that path with volunteer and sponsor support.
What happens next
Registration for the six-week program is open, according to the source.
Further reading
For more on local programs, see Ice Skating coverage across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
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