NEWARK, N.J. - John O’Connell was named the 2025 USA Hockey Disabled Athlete of the Year and received the honor of being the New Jersey Devils’ ‘Hero of the Game’ at Monday’s Military Appreciation Night. 

O’Connell served over two decades with the U.S. Air Force and now plays for the New Jersey Warriors, a hockey program that gives disabled US military veterans an opportunity to play the sport. 

The 62-year-old became legally blind in his 50s. With limited eyesight, he can see what’s directly in front of his line of vision, but not peripherally and has nearly zero vision at night. However, this does not interfere with his ability to play hockey. Neither does the time it takes to get to the rink.

Traveling from his hometown of Toms River to the Bridgewater Ice Arena takes O’Connell roughly four hours of total travel time, just for him to play one hour of hockey. That kind of perseverance and dedication to the sport, despite limitations, is truly inspirational.

View more on John's journey here.