XPost: alt.disability.issues, oc.general, talk.politics.guns
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, sac.politics
Disabled Canadian hockey players may have to end their season early after
their equipment was stolen over the weekend while they were in Irvine for
a tournament.
The specialized equipment was inside a U-Haul that was taken while it was parked outside the team�s hotel Saturday night.
When members of the Edmonton Storm woke up the next morning, the truck was
no longer outside the SpringHill Suites.
The vehicle was later left near Pacific Avenue and Stanford Street in
Santa Ana, video provided by the Irvine Police Department showed. The
driver then appeared to get into either a Chrysler PT Cruiser or a
Chevrolet HHR.
About 27 bags of equipment were stolen, and the team was able to get about
half of the bags back thanks to an Apple AirTag one of the players had in
one of the bags. The items were tracked to a house in Santa Ana, but no
arrests have been made.
Team members are still hopeful someone will help them get back on the ice.
The team is comprised of players who haven�t let their disabilities stop
them from playing the game they love.
�It�s devastating. Without the equipment, we can�t practice. We were
supposed to have another tournament at the end of January, so that�s kind
of on hold, it might not happen now,� Kendra Erhardt told KTLA.
Jordan Bilan, the team�s equipment manager and trainer, said his �heart dropped� when he realized the equipment was gone. He said the value of the stolen items is more than $35,000.
Brad Whyte, another player said some of his personal property was also
inside the U-Haul.
�A lot of us are on fixed incomes, we don�t have money to replace this
stuff,� he said.
One thing that is irreplaceable, is their jerseys that feature a special
patch in remembrance of a teammate they lost to suicide earlier this year.
�All those Oiler jerseys have our last name on it,� Atif Farhat said.
�That patch for Zack, means everything to us. So you guys, give our damn
stuff back. It�s unbelievable that you could do that.�
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https://ktla.com/news/local-news/hockey-team-visiting-o-c-from-canada- gets-specialized-equipment-stolen/>
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